Zodiac Symbol Tattoos

About Zodiac Symbol Tattoos

If you think astrology is a fringe science, think again. It's actually one of the original sciences and was once nearly inseparable from astronomy. Our ancestors gazed at the cosmos and saw order in the infinite chaos, leading to the discovery of the constellations. And as you may already know, the constellations are the basis for the signs of the zodiac.

Interest in astrology is definitely on the upswing, and tattoo enthusiasts who feel a natural affinity for their personal zodiac sign haven't failed to see the artistic merit in each design. Naturally, this has led to the creation of a lot of great tattoos.

Western Signs of the Zodiac

If you enjoy about western astrology, you definitely have a treasure trove of inspiration to draw on when creating zodiac symbol tattoos. Each sign is represented by an incredibly detailed symbol as well as a simpler glyph. Both make fantastic tats by themselves, but you could also ask your artist to incorporate both images into a single design.

Follow the image of zodiac glyphs from left to right.

Top row:

• Taurus is the famous bull. The glyph for this sign is easy to identify; it's a circle with two horns.
• Aries is the mythical ram of Greek mythology. The corresponding glyph for this sign looks like a capital "V" with the ends curled outward.
• Gemini is the sign of the twins. Its glyph almost looks like the mathematical symbol for Pi.
• Aquarius is typically depicted as a young man who carries water to the Gods of ancient Greece. The glyph for this zodiac sign is two horizontal wavy lines, one placed directly above the other.

Middle row:

Zodiac glyphs

• Scorpio, otherwise known as the scorpion has a glyph that looks like it should be the partner of Virgo. The capital "M" shape is almost identical, but this glyph's tail turns outward, and has a triangular barb on the end.
• Pisces is the fish. While this sign is sometimes depicted using the fish-like symbol of Christianity, its glyph actually looks like two parentheses facing away from each other, but connected by a single bar that passes through the center of each.
• Capricorn is half goat, half fish. Its glyph is slightly more obscure than some of the others. It resembles Aries' "V", but the right horn extends out, down and around in a type of curlicue.
• Virgo has always been equated with the virgin. The stylish glyph that corresponds with this sign looks like the letter "M", with a small tail on the right that curves back into the letter.

Bottom row:

• Leo is the great lion. Its glyph resembles a circle with a tail that winds up and down.
• Sagittarius is the archer, but it's often symbolized with the Centaur, a mythical beast with the head and upper torso of a man and the body of a horse. The glyph itself looks a bit like an armed crossbow.
• Libra is designated by the scales. The glyph is easily identifiable, with a figure that looks something like a downward facing horse shoe just above a flat horizontal bar.
• Cancer is the sign of the crab. The glyph for this zodiac symbol looks rather like two tadpoles chasing each other in a circle.

Chinese Zodiac Symbols

Chinese zodiac symbols are different from their western cousins, but no less artistic. Each sign is based on a particular animal. You can choose to have your tattoo created from the animal symbol itself, or opt for the stylish Chinese calligraphy version instead.

If you follow this school of astrology, your birth sign is determined by the year you were born.

Chinese zodiac symbols

Symbols include the year of the:

• Rat
• Ox
• Tiger
• Rabbit
• Dragon
• Snake
• Horse
• Sheep
• Monkey
• Rooster
• Dog
• Boar

Find Inspiration at Tattoo Johnny

If you want to see some truly awesome zodiac symbol tattoos, you've got to visit Tattoo Johnny. This online tat vendor offers page after page of zodiac flash art. As if that's not enough, Johnny's offers your favorite astrological signs adapted to the most popular tattoo styles, including Tribal, Yin Yang and flower butterflies. Purchase and use a design you like, or draw ideas from a mix of designs to create an original zodiac tattoo of your own.