Celtic Tattoo Designs

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Celtic tattoo designs have a deep rooted history.  They were always a traditional site on Celtic warriors who wore their tattoos to act as a means of intimidation for their enemies.  To battle with the Celts was considered the highest honor as their bravery was unmatchable.  Warriors were known to battle completely bare chested which further reinforced their intimidation stance.

To perform these tattoos, the Woad plant was used, a hardy plant that is native to the British Isles and Northern Europe.  The Woad plant acts as a source of an indigo blue die.  The leaves from the plant were dried, boiled, strained and then boiled again to create a potent end result.  The potion was then tapped with needle-like implements into the skin which forced the stain to seep under layers of skin, creating Celtic tattoo designs.

Celtic symbols appeared everywhere on the body and the famous Celtic knot was worn proudly on the chest or arms to be visible to their opponents.  Animals were also quite symbolic to the Celts and showed up frequently in designs.

Celtic Five-Fold Symbol

The first four themes of the primary circles represent four elements being either earth, air, fire and water, or four directions being North, East, South and West or four seasons being winter, spring, summer and fall.  The fifth element of the inner circle is the unified power that joins the four elements together.  The five-fold symbol is also often used as a personal mandala so the meanings could be endless.

Celtic Cross

Honor, balance, transition, unity, faith, ascension, life, temperance, navigation and hope are all keywords used to describe Celtic cross designs.  The symbolism indicates the human desire to experience life’s mysteries.  Self, nature, wisdom and God are the four ways to ascension.  It also represents a meeting place for Divine energy and navigation to lead one through a spiritual sea.  The added element of a circle around the Celtic cross offers a meaning of totality, unification, inclusion and wholeness.

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Celtic Gods And Goddesses

These are powerful symbolic Celtic tattoo designs.  They represent a higher, stronger, power, possessing human traits yet they are immortal.

• Epona – Mother horse goddess to the Earth.  She served as the guardian for new life, including babies and crops.
• Cernunnos – Also referred to as the Horned One, this Celtic god sported stag antlers on top of his head.  He was called upon to ask for favorable hunting conditions and is a popular symbol for hunters.
• Triple Mother Goddess – It took three feminine forces to create the Triple Mother.  The number three holds a mystical significance with the Celts.  She is loaded with wielding power over wind, light and time.
• Taranis – The thunder god or god of the heavens is represented by this thunderbolt tattoo.  Taranis had a duel nature and when provoked he had the ability to bring fury with the sky to those who needed to be punished.

Celtic Knot Tattoos

Celtic knot tattoos are the most recognized symbol of Celtic history.  When looking at these knots you cannot see an end or a beginning reminding you of timeless nature.  It represents an infinite circle of birth as well as rebirth in eternal and physical realms.  There are various types of Celtic knots but the trinity knot is the most common with its three corners that can symbolize Father, Son and the Holy Spirit or mind, spirit and body.

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Celtic Animal Tattoos

Celtic tattoo designs represented by animals hold a lot of symbolic power as well as fascination.

• Celtic Bull – Symbolizes an uncompromising strong will but it is also considered a virile sign to men and fertility for women.
• Celtic Butterfly – This mystical creature represents inspiration, transformation and rebirth.
• Celtic Cat – Silent, mysterious and stoic qualities are meanings behind these tattoos.
• Celtic Dolphin – These tattoos symbolize intelligence, good luck and friendship.  The dolphin’s cleverness combined with its approachability makes the dolphin highly respected in Celt history.
• Celtic Griffins – A symbol of duality due to its part eagle, part lion characteristics represents gentleness, justice and nobility.

Celebrities With Celtic Tattoo Designs

• David Gahan – Depeche Mode singer has a green Celtic cross on his left arm.
• Eva Longoria – Actress displays her Celtic cross on her lower back.
• Melanie C – Spice Girls member has a Celtic band tattoo.
• Robin Williams – Actor shows off his Celtic cross on his right hip.
• Jessica Lang – Actress boasts her Celtic knot on her left wrist.

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Armband Tattoo Designs

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Armband tattoo designs continue to explode in popularity year after year.  They are so varied in style and symbols that each representation is as unique as the individual wearing it.  Armband tattoos can be aggressively bold or designed to be subtle and feminine.

Tribal designs seem to have taken over the armband tattoo genre however there has literally been an unimaginable number of creatures or characters that have been stretched to entwine around the bicep including mystical creatures like unicorns, fairies and dragons.  They can house animals, symbols, flowers, vines, bones and be exquisitely detailed or made with an appreciative simplicity.

Armband Tattoo History

At some point in the 1700s, Japanese made the transition of ridding themselves of barbaric practices of amputations of fingers, ears, nose, etc for convicted criminals.  For every committed offense, a significant tattoo was created around the arm of their convicted criminals.  Around 1870, tattooing of this sort became abolished by Japan.

The Polynesian islands have been wearing armband tattoo designs for centuries and today’s Hawaiian bands are remnant of such ancient traditions.  Many modern designs incorporate traditional Polynesian elements into their designs.

Among Polynesian and Hawaiian islanders, an armband tattoo represented status or rank and served a similar purpose of patches that are sewn on military personnel uniform sleeves.

Armband Tattoo Placement

Traditionally, armband tattoos are placed at the bicep’s widest part of the upper arm.  Bands that are created around wrists are called cuffs.  Additionally, tattoo bands are often linked around the forearm, calf or ankle.

Some artists and cultures believe that closing the band is considered bad luck, however it is also thought that the superstition could have been created due to difficulty in alignment to close the gap.  Before committing to an armband, always be sure to discuss closure options with your tattooist.

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Types Of Armband Tattoo Designs

Celtic Armbands – These armbands feature intricately angled lines making them a popular choice.  Complex knots, crosses, spirals, interlacing lines and both mythical and real animals are common choices.

Hawaiian Armbands – Although these tattoos are part of Hawaiian culture, it has been more recently that they have become a tradition.   It began as a popular souvenir in the 1970s for those visiting the Island but then gained popularity with the natives who wanted to show their pride in their culture.

Tribal Armbands – These do not represent any specific culture but they offer bold patterns with an organic feel.  The strong black lines of tribal erupted with popularity in the 1990s and continues to be a popular pick.

Indian Armband – Rope, beads and feathers usually make up these armbands that are often paired up with a dream catcher, ax, totem pole or a bull’s skull.

Floral Armband – A string of flowers either in color or black is a popular choice however, one solitary flower on a long vine wrapped around the arm is a simple, elegant idea as well.

Cross Armband – Sometimes the cross is just incorporated in these armbands and for others, the cross itself can be stretched around the arm to create the entire band.

Dragon Armband – Dragons work as well as snakes for bands because they house no definite lines.  The curve of these creatures are easily manipulated into a desired pattern.

Barbwire Armband – With so many modern choices available for armbands, barbed wire continues to be popular due to its simplicity and size.

Rosary Armband – These are extremely popular choices whether the individual is religious or not, there is just something mysterious and romantic about an old rosary.  These are most often seen as a cuff or an ankle band, especially on females.

You can literally wrap anything you want around your arm.  Of course you can choose a traditional option but if you have a meaningful symbol, favorite animals or special words, they are ideal to use so that your armband will be original.  There are those that even wear their wedding vows around their arm.  The possibilities are endless.

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Celebrities With Armband Tattoo Designs

• Pamela Anderson – Actress/model wears a barbwire armband.
• Anna Benson – Model shows off her tribal armband on her left arm.
• Kiera Chaplin – Model/actress has a skull armband on her left arm.
• Melanie Chisholm – Singer boasts a Celtic armband tattoo.
• Willa Ford – Musician has an armband of musical notes around her arm.
• Joey Kramer – Drummer has an armband tattoo on his right bicep.
• Donyell Marshall – NBA player wears a barbwire armband on his right arm.
• Jo O’Meara – Musician has a barbwire armband tattoo.
• Dolores O’Riordan – Singer has an armband tattoo on her right bicep.
• Janna Svenson – Swedish model shows off her tribal armband on her right arm.
• Alicia Witt – Actress displays an original armband of a fern around her right arm.
• Orlando Bloom – Actor has a double black band on his left forearm.
• Kiefer Sutherland – Actor wears a barbwire armband on his left and a Celtic armband on his right arm.

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Cross Tattoo Designs

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Cross tattoo designs are generally meant to act as a symbol of remembrance either spiritually or as a tribute to a loved one.  However, depending on the type of cross, they can also be a representation of pain, fertility, courage, loyalty, honor, etc.  A cross is full of historical and spiritual meaning and symbolism.It can be placed anywhere on the body and is an extremely versatile component to be paired up with writing, animals, wings and endless other designs.

The History of Cross Tattoo Designs

Symbolically, a cross was used by many pagan religions that were present thousands of years before Christianity so the meaning behind cross tattoo designs are as diverse as the crosses themselves.  Aztec, Greek. Egyptian and Norse cultures used the cross as a symbol for many centuries.

There is historical documentation of Christian tattoos dating back to the 5th century.  Later, during the Crusades, the knights often displayed a cross tattoo on their arm or hand to tell that upon death they wished to have a Christian burial.  After time, with the rise of Christianity, the cross became a symbol of execution by crucifixion.  Today, Christian tattoos are a popular expression of the Christian faith.

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Religious Cross Tattoos

Latin Cross – This is a religions symbol representing Christ’s crucifixion.  It is characterized by two vertical lines intersected by perfect right angles approximately one third down from the top. They are used by Christians to boast their faith in their religion.

Celtic Cross – Similar in appearance to the Latin Cross, but there is a Celtic Knot over the area that houses the intersection of the lines.  It is simple and elegant and symbolizes never ending human life with the knot standing for a joining of spiritual and physical worlds.

St. Andrew’s Cross – These crosses are shaped like an “X”.  It is a representation to St. Andrew, a Patron Saint of Scotland.  This is a popular tribute to Scottish ancestors.

Non-religious Cross Tattoos

Gothic Cross – Influenced by German styles of ornate wrought iron work.  This work was prevalent during the Edwardian and Victorian Era and is a symbol of the Goth culture.  It is used to represent feelings of pain, anger and depression.

Ankh – Similar in appearance to a traditional cross, however, it displays a bent vertical line forming a loop just above the line that is horizontal.  It symbolized fertility and infinity.

Tau Cross – This cross is connected with Judaism and Paganism.  It once was a symbol of pagan god Tammuz and it also symbolized the Hammer of Thor.  It is characterized with two vertical lines that intersect at the top to form a “T” shape.

Maltese Cross – The eight points made by this cross is meant to symbolize the qualities of a knight being generosity, courage, loyalty, honor, piety, contempt of death, reverence with the church and helpfulness.  This cross is a powerful symbol for ancient times and today it is a firefighter’s protection symbol.

Iron Cross – This striking looking cross is a German symbol of triumph and courage.  It is often mistaken for the similar looking Maltese cross.

Southern Cross – This is the English name for the Crux Australis, which is a visible constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.  It is commonly known for its representation on the Rebel flag or Confederate flag.

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Celebrities With Cross Tattoo Designs

• Justin Timberlake – This singer shows off his cross tattoo on his left arm.
• Robin Williams – Actor has a Celtic cross found on his right hip and another one on his right arm.
• Britney Spears – Singer boasts her pink and black cross on her hip.
• Tupac Shakur – Late rapper had a Gothic cross with the inscription of Exodus 18:11.
• David Gahan – Depeche Mode singer has one cross on his left arm and another one under his arm.
• Drew Barrymore – Actress displays her cross on her ankle.
• Mary J. Blige – Singer has a cross tattoo present on her right thigh.
• Boy George – 80s singer from the Culture Club band shows of his cross on his right shoulder.
• Kelly Clarkson – American Idol singer displays her small cross on her right wrist.
• Jenna Jameson – This beautiful adult film star proudly shows off her cross on her back.
• Lenny Kravitz – Musician has a cross tattoo on his arm.
• Eva Longoria – Gorgeous Desperate Housewives actress displays a Celtic cross on her lower back.
• Christian Slater – Actor has a cross on his right shoulder accompanied with two lions.

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Egyptian Tattoo Designs

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Egyptian tattoo designs seem to have had a rebirth in popularity.  They are striking, ancient symbolic images that have been adopted as art all over the world.  Tattooing was not incredibly widespread among Egyptians with the exception of the women.  Princesses, priestesses and dancers were often tattooed with shapes and parallel lines.

The History of Egyptian Tattoo Designs

Thanks to the mummified women being discovered, anthropologists have been able to elaborate ritual burials.  One of the most famous mummies that has been written about is a priestess, Amunet who  displayed many dots and lines tattooed at specific areas of your body.

An additional mummy belonging to a dancer was found displaying the same line pattern.  However, she also showed a cicatrix pattern at her lower pubic region.  These designs have been called the “Brides of Death” label.

These specific dash and dot patterns have been observed through years in Egypt.  Evidence to date offers the idea that tattooing was pretty restricted to women and generally these women had an affiliation with ritualistic practice.  These mummies have given the knowledge that Egyptian tattoo designs started long before 2,000 B.C.

Ankh Tattoos

Ankh tattoos are created from an ancient symbol that houses magical protection.  It is a symbolic cross that greatly predates the common Christian cross by thousands of years.  The Ankh cross resembles a Latin cross however the top of it has a rounded component.  It is considered a hieroglyphic life symbol.  It is quite versatile and can be dramatic and large, paired up with other symbols or it can be designed small and discrete.  They are reported to be a common tattoo with gangs to represent eternal life among members.

Eye Of Horus Tattoos

The Eye of Horus is one of the most common Egyptian tattoo designs.  It is a symbol of protection that was used on amulets, skins and bracelets.  Horus was the sky god that was described as a falcon.  The Eye of Horus is the falcon’s right eye with the markings portrayed under the eye to be a teardrop representation.  It is common to see this tattoo incorporated in a pyramid.

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Anubis Tattoos

Anubis, in ancient Egyptian mythology was the god over the dead.  He was a jackal’s head and a man’s body and carried a stick in one hand and his other hand wears an ankh cross.  These Egyptian tattoo designs symbolize a protection from death.

Hieroglyphics Tattoos

Ancient Egypt used hieroglyphs for writing purposes and they could be interpreted in two different ways.  The first way was phonetic, a 24 symbol, hieroglyphic alphabet that represents a consonant.  The second way is logo-graphic, a hieroglyph that has a symbol representing an entire word.

Phoenix Tattoos

Phoenix Egyptian tattoo designs symbolize resurrection and rebirth.  The mythological bird lives for 500 years at a time, creates a myrrh nest and burns himself in the nest.  Three days later a new phoenix is born from these ashes.  The Egyptian phoenix goes by the name of Bennu and it is said to be the soul of Ra who was the sun god.

Other Egyptian Tattoos

Scarab Tattoos – The dung beetle, or scarab was a worshiped creature in ancient Egypt.
Djed Tattoos – This is a tower-looking Egyptian symbol that represents stability.
Cat Tattoos – Bastet was the Egyptian cat who was the goddess of the moon.

Celebrities With Egyptian Tattoos

• Anastacia – Singer shows of an eternal life symbol on her lower back.
• Jennifer Esposito – Actress had an Eye of Horus on her back.
• Adam Lambert – Singer has a small Eye of Horus present on his right wrist.
• Vanessa Marcil – Actress displays an Egyptian symbol of peace on her lower back.
• Ville Valo – HIM singer boasts an Egyptian flame on his leg.
• Rasheed Wallace – NBA player displays an Egyptian scene.
• Tupac Shakur – Late rapper had a queen Nefertiti head tattoo.

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