Eagle Tattoo Designs and Meaning
From all the birds tattoos eagle tattoos are more frequently chosen by men. They symbolize such qualities of human nature as power, courage, grit and fearlessness, the qualities that are typiclally ascribed to men.
Eagles live on high trees or rocks and fly high in the sky, that’s why they are considered to be strong and independent. They defend their territory fighting in the sky and refuse to give up when invaders approach. They typically have acute eyesight and can see even small birds and animals from the 2 miles distance. An eagle tattoo thus can show that its wearer possesses the above mentioned abilities.
Eagles are associated with gods of Heaven and Sun, rulers and warriors. The eagle is the lord of the sky and the universal & definite symbol of power, being the helpmate of all the great gods, as well as their personification. In one of the Greek myths, Zeus’s anger turned into the eagle that was tearing to pieces Prometheus’s liver. According to Ancient Roman’s beliefs, eagles could carry the souls of the dead to Heaven as they could look straight at the sun. That’s why they had a tradition to let an eagle out when the body of the dead emperor was being burnt. The flight of the eagle was also the omen of victory in the war.
In the medieval Christian iconography the eagle is associated with the Christ’s rapture to heaven, the prayers with which we address God, the descent of the grace of God and the victory over the evil (when the bird is depicted carrying a snake in its beak).
The connection between the eagle and the gods is also described in Ancient Egypt, west-Asian, Indian and Oriental cultures. When it is combined with the snake it becomes a symbol of the unity of opposites, the sky and the earth.
Nowadays we can see the U.S representation of the eagle, which is usually inked with stars around it and an American flag. And some people even get an eagle tattoo to show off their service that they have performed for the country.
The eagle tattoos may vary greatly. This bird can be depicted natural-looking or there’s also a possibility to make Celtic style or tribal style eagle tattoos. The tattoo is often made on the back covering the whole back from side to side. Women can choose an eagle tattoo to be done on their ankles, for instance.
Eagle Tattoo Designs and Meaning is a post from: Tattoo designs and ideas by Tattooique
