Aztec And Mexican Tattoo Designs

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Mexican tattoos are some of the most striking new patterns around. They take their themes from those of ancient Mayan, Inca and Aztec art, a very distinctive look that’s different from most other types of tattoo designs, yet instantly recognizable.The bold, geometric patterns of Mexican tattoos make them very well suited to tattoo art.

Ancient Aztec Tattoos

Mexican Tattoo

The Aztecs were a tribe that lived from the 13th to the 16th century in and around the area that is now called Mexico. Religion and the many gods were very important in the Aztec culture, a lot of the daily life of the Aztecs was meant to honor and please the gods.

Tattooing played an important role in the Aztec culture though, even children were tattooed.

The ancient Aztec tattoo designs were rather rudimentary, and were not only designed to decorate the body, but for a variety of reasons:

• Aztec tribal tattoos were done during rituals and always in honor of a specific god.
• Tattoo designs were used to differentiate between the different tribes.
• Aztec tattoo designs were used to mark a person’s status, to show a warrior's rank and accomplishments.

There are several tattoo designs that we commonly see with regard to Aztec and Mexican tattoos:

• Many Aztec tattoo designs involve the sun in one way or another. Sun tattoos were in honor of Huitzilopochtili, the Aztec sun god. The sun was very important to the Aztec people, it was the guardian of the heavens. That's why today, an Aztec sun tattoo symbolizes belief in an afterlife.
• Quetzalcoatl – the feathered serpent god of ancient Mexico – has also been adapted to Mexican tattooing. Quetzalcoatl, the god of weather, creativity and fertility, was the most powerful of all Aztec gods.
  
  
  
  
• Tezcatlipoca, the god of warriors.
• The Aztec calendar is a nice design for a tribal tattoo. Here's a video of an Aztec calendar tattoo in the works:

• Eagle: Aztec warriors drew strength from the eagle.
• Other Aztec tattoos that are popular today are cross tattoos and sun & moon tattoos.

Nowadays people are interested in Aztec tribal tattoos because of their symbolic meaning, to honor their heritage or because they feel a connection with the ancient and powerful culture of the Aztecs.

Mexican Prison and Gang Tattoos

On the other hand, one type of Mexican or Hispanic tattoo has been current for some time, and that is the gang or prison related tattoo. These tattoo designs often feature:

• Ornate tattoo lettering.
• Christian (specifically Catholic) images. These include images of certain saints, the Virgin Mary, as well as cross or Christ imagery.

Examples of Mexican mafia tattoos include:

• An eagle with a snake in its mouth, standing on the initials EME.
• A black hand.
• MM: Mafia Mexicana.

Other Mexican Tattoo Designs

Nowadays, there’s much more to Mexican tattoos than a prison or gang related design. Mexican style tattoos are among the most beautiful and original new tattoos designs today.

• Mexican skull tattoos: inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead, a holiday in which the Mexican people remember those who have died.
  
  
  
  
• Mexican pride tattoos: a lot of Mexicans work in the United States, away from their origins. To honor their heritage and show their Mexican pride, some adorn themselves with for example a Mexican flag tattoo.

Before you decide on a Mexican tattoo design, do a bit of research about the mythology that engendered it, and the precise meaning of the image you are choosing. After all, you will be living with this image for the rest of your life (at least until the cost of tattoo removal comes down a bit), so you want to make sure that it resonates with you – in more ways than just appearance.

Some of Aztec, Maya and Inca mythology is inspiring, but some of it tends to be a bit dark, so you need to make sure that you don't end up with an image whose meaning you aren't completely comfortable with!


Source : http://www.freetattoodesigns.org/mexican-tattoos.html

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Today’s sun design tattoos are popular for more reasons than their meaning. Vivid colors, a wide range of influences and a creative imagination are all tools that tattoo artists employ to bring the sun (and moon, and stars) to life on individual, human canvases. And, as with so many other symbols, a slight change in color, style or size can give each sun tattoo a totally unique meaning. These tattoo designs can be rendered as evil angry suns or flaming suns. Sun tattoo pictures can be found in many styles including tribal suns, Celtic suns and Aztec suns. Whether adorning your arm, shoulder, forearm, chest, or legs or lingering seductively around your belly button or lower back, the sun is always on the rise.

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

From our first ancestor’s first exposure to the image of the rising, of the sun, moon and stars, it’s an occurrence that has enchanted humanity from our very roots. It’s no wonder that so many enthusiasts have permanently etched their bodies with such powerful symbols as sun tattoo designs. Every country, every culture has had its own local legend and lore concerning the creation of the sun and the gods and goddesses that were so closely related to it. From the Americas to the Orient, the sun has not only been revered as a symbol, but also worshipped as a mighty deity.

Sun Tattoos Meaning and Symbolism

Today, having a tattoo in the design of the sun doesn’t necessarily mean that you worship the sun, but that something about that particular design holds a special meaning to you. Some modern symbolism concerning the sun includes:

• The sun represents the centralizing force (or purpose) that sustains, integrates and gives design to our individual existence.
• The sun stands for the principle of selfhood.
• The sun symbolizes the will that is necessary to creatively participate in the greater whole.
• It means vitality, personal power, leadership and dignity.
• On a gravestone, the sun symbolizes the soul rising to Heaven.
• Most widely, though, the sun represents eternal renewal, and the shining virtues of both truth and light.

The sun and – really - all things celestial, have kept the imaginations of man running for millennia.

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

The Sun’s Role in Myth and Lore

In all of the world’s leading myths and legends, you’ll find references to the sun or its god or goddess. And it’s no wonder that this mighty star was rewarded with reverence and fear. The sun was responsible for such wonders as dawn and dusk, birth and harvest. It provided people with warmth and temporary security, and was a trustworthy way to measure the days and times and seasons.

To the Native Americans of North America, the general role of the sun was that of the Earth’s guardian during the day. With it, the sun brought healing energy, and the “Sun Face”, which was seen as the Giver of life, warmth, growth and goodness.

In South America, there were the Incas (who called the sun Inti) who viewed the sun god to be benevolent and married to his wife, Pachamama, the Earth Goddess. There were also the Aztec’s who worshipped the sun god Huitzilopochtil, a name which means “Blue Hummingbird on the Left”. As you might have guessed, this sun god was depicted as a blue man, armed to the teeth with his head decorated with many hummingbird feathers. A daring god, he encouraged the Aztec people to move south to a promised land, to fight without mercy, to form an empire, and –rather gruesomely- instructed them to take prisoners in order to sacrifice their hearts (and lives) to the gods.

In Western Africa, the people lived under the rule of Liza, the African god associated with the sun. The culture generally viewed Liza as a fierce and harsh male deity who was always grouped together with his faithful partner, Mawu (the moon). Farther north, in Egypt, the people have worshipped Re (or Ra) for eons. He is usually shown in human form with a falcon head, crowned with the sun disc encircled by a stylized representation of the sacred cobra known as the uraeus. The sun itself was taken to be either his body or his eye. He was free to traverse the sky each day in a solar boat and pass through the underworld each night on another solar ship to reappear in the east each morning. His principal cult centre was at Heliopolis, also known as the "sun city”, near modern Cairo.

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

In Europe the Norse, Greek, Roman and Celtic cultures each worshipped the sun in their own way. The Norse worshipped Freyr, the god of both the sun and the rain, and the patron of bountiful harvests. A peaceful god, he was also a brave warrior, and a ruler over the elves. The Greeks and Romans both worshipped Helios, a son of titans. He was not only the god of the son, but the brother of both the dawn (Eos) and the moon (Selene). Not surprisingly, his sacred animal was the rooster. He fulfilled his job as sun god by causing the sun to rise and rest with his golden, 4-horse chariot. The Celts worshipped Lugh, who’s name translates to “shining one”, and is the Celtic sun (and most supreme) god. In life, he faced many hardships, his life sought by his underworld ruling grandfather Balor because of a prophecy which said Balor would die at his grandson’s hands. Balor flung him from a high tower just after his birth. The world had thought him dead, but he had secretly been saved by Manannan, the god of the sea.

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Finally, in Asia, the Japanese and Hindus had their own aspects of the sun god. In India, the Hindus worshipped Garuda, a bird god, who is revered for his ethics and the strength of those same ethics when used to correct evil-doers. Garuda is not only a god, but the King of all birds. He has the wings (red), head (white), talons and beak of an eagle, and the golden body and limbs of a man. The final sun god we will meet isn’t really a sun god, but instead a sun goddess. For in Japan, Amateras-Ohmikanmi is the female representation of the sun. More important still, she is the ruler of the Plain of Heaven and the greatest of all the Japanese deities. She was born of the left eye of the creator of the world, the primordial sky, Izanagi.

It is no mystery then, with all of the attention that the sun god received, that people began to wear tattoos that were designed to honor and symbolize this magical partnership between life and the sun. In fact, each of the people mentioned above bear a strong tribal history of tattooing, a history that continues to grow and change today.

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

Sun Tattoos and Tattoos Designs

A few hundred years ago, we’d have been burnt at the stake for making claims that today have proven to be facts. In truth, many did burn at the stake for things as simple as saying that the earth revolves around the sun, and vice versa. It wasn’t only the ancient Aztecs who were willing to offer their lives for it.

Whether you want a traditional sun tattoo design for your lower back or a modern new-school sun for your shoulder there are hundreds of choices in the gallery to choose from. Maybe you want to combine your sun tattoo with a moon, with stars or even a tribal cross. Either way a sun is a timeless choice for your next tattoo.

Source : http://www.tattoojohnny.com/sun-tattoo-designs.asp

Mexican Tattoos Designs

Mexican tattoos have come a long way from the stereotype gang tattoos that most people wrongly associate with Hispanics and their culture. Although gang tattoos are quite extensive they have even made it into mainstream street culture with sexy Latinas, chicas and wannabe homeboys adopting this gangbanger style.

Many Mexican tattoos such as these will have gang or criminal affiliations such as the number 13 which signifies the 13th letter of the alphabet, the letter M, meaning La Eme or The M; the Mexican Mafia. Or the three dots usually found on the hand beween the thumb and forefinger which has come to mean Mi Vida Loca or My Crazy Life. But Mexican tattoos aren't all about gangs or prison time.

'Mexican Day of the Dead' inspired design © Anna at Annagram

Mexico is predominantly a Catholic country and this has had a major influence in the style of tattoos worn by many Mexicans. Images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ are quite popular. There are many variations of the Virgin Mary depicted as an apparition or protective mother. Similarly Jesus is often depicted in the classic Sacred Heart tattoo or depicted on a cross.

Cross tattoos are hugely popular amongst Mexican males in particular. The usual place to have them done in on the chest or covering the entire back. For females the depiction of the Sacred Heart on the chest is another popular style.

With such a rich history in Mexico you would expect that Aztec or Mayan tattoo designs would be quite prominent. The Mayans and Aztecs were renowned for their body art yet this is not really the case in Mexico. As you would expect the majority of people who request these types of designs are not of Hispanic origin. Go figure


Source : http://www.tao-of-tattoos.com/mexican-tattoos.html

Flower Tattoo Ideas For Female

Flower Tattoo Design Ideas For Female

See this Permanent female tattoo with new art design ideas and full body tattos, that girl still make flower tattoo design in tattos studio