All About Anchor Tattoo

In the art of tattooing, there are many plots filled with deep symbolism, most often they are rooted in the distant past. One of them is considered to be a sea anchor; the very first attributes of such an image date back to the Sumerian era. Such a tattoo not only looks stylish, but also carries many interpretations.

In the 16th century, when the British navy won a crushing victory over the Spaniards, the British began to use the image of the anchor - it served as the identification mark of the Navy. Later, such tattoos became widespread among ordinary sailors and travelers who ventured to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Today, a similar motive is used as a sign of love for the sea and distant wanderings.

Anchor tattoo is considered an ideal body decoration for people who have to spend a lot of time away from home and their families. This is not surprising, because the main purpose of the anchor is to ensure the stability of the ship in the water. That's why a tattoo with his image symbolizes security and stability.

By stuffing an anchor on his skin, the sailor thereby expressed the hope that he could return to his family safe and sound.... For people who have traveled a lot, the anchor has always been a symbol of confidence in the correctness of the chosen road and in the fact that one day they will definitely find themselves where they come in handy.

If the anchor was depicted with a long chain - this meant that the person made a serious promise to someone... The same image of a man was applied to the body when they were held back by an important duty - most often it concerned the family.

The position of the anchor also determines its symbolic meaning.

• If the anchor is exactly perpendicular to the ground, it is the personification of reliability, determination and firmness. Such tattoos are made by strong people who are able to overcome any obstacles.
• If the anchor on the body is stuffed at an angle, it means that the person has gone through some serious test and learned an important life lesson. Such a tattoo suggests that all unpleasant events are already in the past, but their significance and role in fate turned out to be extremely high.
• If a broken anchor or disassembled anchor is stuffed on the skin, it means that sad events have taken place in a person's life that deprived him of hope for a brighter future. It is possible that he suffered a severe loss.

After the Christian teaching spread throughout the world, anchors began to depict in the form of a cross. This image was supplemented with a jumper in the upper part and became the personification of the hope for salvation. The very first use of an anchor in this form is found in the texts of the Apostle Paul. A little later, it adorned the faces of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

A similar sign is found in Egyptian culture. There he represents a union of masculine and feminine principles, a symbol of the universe as a whole. Therefore, such an anchor is referred to as sacred signs. It is no coincidence that ancient manuscripts contain references to the images of Neptune, Poseidon, as well as Varun and Amphitrite.

In the Renaissance, a new plot appeared - anchor and dolphin. The symbol has become the personification of slow and fast, speed and braking. Such a tattoo seems to say: "Hurry slowly."

About 300 years ago, anchor tattoos were used by Western sailors.... It was a kind of tribute to the sea element, people sincerely believed that by stuffing this image on the body, you can get the blessing of the sea spirits. At that time, Europe had already adopted Christianity, but people, as before, remained superstitious. Despite the fact that they have already ceased to worship the forces of nature, there remains a desire to somehow appease them.

The meaning of a tattoo in the form of an anchor on the skin can have a very different design, both in style and in the storyline.

An anchor is a self-contained image. It looks impressive with any technique of performance, from trash polka to realism, so there are no restrictions in the style of printing such a pattern. It all depends only on personal preference and what message your picture conveys.

If you want to see the anchor on the body as a talisman and amulet, minimalism will be appropriate here. The touch of romance is best conveyed by the old school technique. Drawing in a realistic style carries the deepest sacred meaning.

The fairer sex usually picks up feminine and graceful sketches. They are distinguished by bright colors, compact dimensions and a minimum of additional details. Men most often opt for large-scale watercolor or old school sketches.

Just imagine, for example, a sailor with an anchor in a realistic manner, near whom are filled with watercolor stains and a couple of Celtic crosses. Believe me, such a person will simply be laughed at!

In order for the overall picture of body tattoos to be effective, the drawings must be combined according to the color palette, style and meaning. Otherwise, the owner of the tattoos will rather resemble an ordinary exhibition of creative works by artists working in various directions.

Moving on to the practical part of the question, we offer you several effective options for applying an anchor tattoo.

• Graphics. The black and blue version is for people who are used to laconic monochrome images.

• The tattoos, stuffed with realistic techniques, are suitable for people who prefer specificity and precision.

• Stylish and effective dotwork will be the choice for the most creative people who prefer a non-standard approach.

• Simple and restrained minimalism is more suitable for practitioners.

• Traditional and old school tattoos are used for classic style tattoos. These options are suitable for any body image.

• Watercolor color pictures look very stylish and effective. When stuffing anchors, blues and scarlet tones are usually dominant.

The plot motives of tattoos in the form of an anchor are diverse. Some are symbolic, the second are realistic, and the third do not have any meaning at all, representing a surreal picture.

• An anchor, together with a compass or a lighthouse, symbolizes the correctly chosen road, absolute confidence in the decisions made.

• Religious or superstitious people fill the anchor together with the cross.

• Anchor with a heart prefer to combine romantics and tragedies, they also resort to combinations of anchors with skulls.

• The tattoo depicting an anchor entwined with a snake carries great symbolism. It has many meanings, but they are all associated with wisdom, resourcefulness and deceit.

• Another common motif is an anchor with a thematic inscription made on a ribbon and with a pair of wings. Most often, it symbolizes internal freedom from external circumstances.

• A non-standard solution would be an anchor that pierces the skin. It looks especially impressive when using realistic techniques.

• Slightly more complex is a tattoo that combines an anchor with an octopus. Such a tattoo bears a reference to the peculiarities of the behavior of this aquatic inhabitant - it has three hearts and a high ability to recover, therefore it is considered to be a sign of immortality and rebirth.

• To this day, tattoos with elements of ancient techniques are relevant - an anchor and a wind rose, a mermaid, a shark or a steering wheel. In this case, tattoo artists resort to old school and traditional techniques, as the closest to those that could be found among the conquerors of the seas in the old days.

• Anchor in combination with roses is the personification of loyalty, honor and love. These flowers are closely associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite, in all paintings she is depicted with a wreath of roses.

Anchor tattoo can be placed anywhere on the body. The main thing is to choose the right plot and size. It is important to provide, if necessary, the ability to cover the tattoo with clothes or hair. However, it should be borne in mind that any place under a tattoo on a human body can carry its own specific meaning.

• Forearm... Men were the first to get tattoos on the forearm, since in those days women were forbidden to be on the ship - this was considered a bad omen. However, today this prejudice has outlived its usefulness, therefore, such a symbol can be found both on male hands and on the body of the fairer sex.

• Shoulder... The advantage of this part of the body is that here the sketch can be supplemented with the necessary symbolic images. Thanks to this, professional tattooists can create truly luxurious paintings on the shoulders.

• Breast... Men usually create big pictures when stuffing the image of an anchor on their chest.But the most common tattoo in this place was among girls.

• Back... For a tattoo artist, the back is comparable to a real canvas for a painter. Usually, large-scale tattoos are made in this place, they are placed closer to the neck.

• Stomach... Another place popular with girls. They believe that such a tattoo makes the owner more sexy and relaxed. However, as in the case of breast, it is necessary to weigh all the pros and cons - during life a person can recover or, conversely, lose weight, abdominal surgeries are not excluded. All of them will lead to the fact that the contours of the tattoo "float", and the picture will look ridiculous.

• Brush... Since ancient times, small tattoos on the wrist have been considered a talisman. Nowadays, these areas are usually decorated with miniature pictures.

• Leg... A tattoo on the leg has the same interpretation as on any other part of the body. At the same time, real masterpieces can be created on the thighs and calves.

• Mini tattoos are also done on the face and in the area behind the ears.

The image of the anchor has become widespread as paired tattoos for members of the same family or lovers. This is no coincidence, because it symbolizes the strength and stability of relations. In this case, the picture is stuffed onto the wrists, forearms or ring fingers.

Nowadays, the image of an anchor has a simple meaning - a passion for travel and the sea.

• For men, it is also a symbol of finding a place in which a person is ready to take root, that is, to create a family.

• For women, anchor means dedication to dreams, the presence of valuable ideals.

• Lovers often get paired tattoos. They mean that both partners are confident in the seriousness of their intentions and are going to join their destinies for the rest of their lives.

• However, for windy people who are not inclined to permanence, such a tattoo becomes a psychological option for solving a problem and an incentive to correct the situation.

• Of course, there are also army tattoos. For example, the anchor of the Navy is often stuffed by people who have served in the Navy.