Common Tribal Tattoos
 Tribal
tattoos are among the most popular pieces of body art. In fact, they are
also the oldest variety of tattoos and possess a special, cultural
meaning to many ethnic groups. Although there are endless varieties of
tribal tattoos, most fit into a few common categories. Here, we will
examine some of the most popular and symbolic tribal body art pieces.
By far the most common tribal tattoo is the tribal armband. This is
almost always placed around the bicep muscle. Usually, the armband
consists solely of abstract, geometric lines done in black ink. However,
variations on this idea do exist. Some people combine the armband with a
symbol like a skull or flower (most likely a rose). Additionally, some
armbands are now done in colored ink to accent the design.
Another of the most popular tribal pieces is also traditionally placed
on the arm. It is the shoulder tattoo and commonly takes the form of a
disk shape. Disk tattoos fit well on the shoulder and are especially
notable in tribal artwork. Tribal discs, like armbands, are simply a
collection of geometric lines. However, there is also a trend towards
tribal sun disks. The sun is a universal symbol of life, power, and
strength in many native cultures that started the tribal tattoo trend.
Not all shoulder tattoos are disks, though.
Celtic tattoos are also exceptionally common when it comes to tribal
designs. Many people get Celtic crosses with tribal forms. Celtic
crosses are very distinctive due to the unique flaring of the points.
They are also generally surrounded by Celtic chain designs. Other
popular Celtic tattoos feature butterflies. These are usually done with
a mix of black ink and bold color. Celtic disks, which also fit with the
trend discussed above, are another popular choice. Compared with other
types of disks, Celtic ones are most likely to be a traditional circle
in shape. Their insides are decorated with Celtic lines, which are
intertwined and curved.
Maori and Alaskan designs are also quite popular. In fact, these groups
are among the first to have practiced tattooing and those with either
heritage seek to honor their ancestors through their body art. Maori
tattoos are known for their intricate, linear patterns. They also tend
to feature abstract human forms. Maori tattoos are almost always done
strictly in black ink. In contrast, Alaskan tattoos are more open to
color. They usually center on abstractions of nature forms that reflect
spiritual forces. Fish and birds are the most common symbols used here.
Finally, some people use Asian symbols in tribal tattoos. These are most
commonly the dragon and the “ying yang.” While the dragon tattoo is a
common Asian design, the tribal dragon possesses its own unique look,
characterized by the same geometric elements in other tribal art. The
same is true for the ying yang. Ying yangs are usually incorporated into
armband or disk tattoos.
Tribal tattoos have been around for thousands of years, and it is
unlikely they will lost popularity anytime soon. In fact, it seems the
tribal trend is continuing to grow. If you are considering getting a
tribal tattoo, these are some great ideas to get you started. However,
your own heritage and beliefs may steer you towards another, unique,
variety of the tribal tattoo.
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