HomeIn this article on the best cross tattoo designs you will find helpful information regarding the myths and legends surrounding the cross tattoo design, and all you need to know to find the best cross tattoo designs.
The cross has been used by almost every culture in a variety of shapes and sizes with diverse symbolic meanings, and that is why the cross has always remained one of the most popular and best tattoo designs today. For example, the cross can symbolise health, life, death, immortality, fertility, the sun and stars, and the alliance of Heaven and earth.
The Anchor cross, a popular tattoo design for those who sail the seven seas, earned its name thanks to the martyrdom in the middle ages of a Roman bishop, who got up the nose of the Roman Emperor Trajan. Now this Emperor took such a disliking to the bishop he tied him to an anchor and he was thrown into the deep, blue, sea. For his sacrifice, the bishop was rewarded with sainthood (St. Clement) is always referred to as the martyr bishop.
Other popular cross tattoo designs are those which represent countries or cultures. Flags of countries,such as,Denmark,Finland and many others, as well as other popular icons like the Maltese cross.
The cross is one of the oldest symbols known to mankind. Celtic coins found dated back long before Christianity and cave drawings have also revealed crosses’ dating back to the Stone Age, and you see examples of this design in Celtic cross tattoo designs, also another popular cross tattoo design.
It is not known when or why the first cross was drawn, perhaps it was as innocent as just making a mark, or x marks the spot, but after the circle the cross is believed to be one of the first drawn by children across all cultures, this may be explained by the simplicity of the strokes of course, but it’s still an interesting point to consider.
Today, still one of the most popular cross tattoo designs is the Ancient Egyptian ankh (“meaning handled cross”), or the Key of the Nile, this cross was around before the cross as we know it and was seen as a symbol of new life. The circle or head like shape at the top stood for the sun as the creator of life.
Certainly, the Christian cross is by far the most popular and easily recognisable cross. The latin meaning of the word cross is "crux" which roughly translates to torture, and the name lived up to expectations, and although it was seen as a terrible way to die, there is no doubt it's influence was immence on the foundations of Christianity.
Jesus was not the first to die on a cross and he certainly wasn’t the last. Many of the early followers also met the same fate, most notably St. The very humble St. Peter would not be crucified the right way up as he thought he was undeserving to be compared to Jesus. This upside cross is still used today in some Catholic ceremonies to symbolise humbleness and respect to Jesus. The upside cross has also been associated with anti-Christian or Satanic groups.
As you can see there is a lot of symbolism represented in the different adaptations of the cross, and I hope this guide to cross tattoo designs has been of some benefit to you. If you are looking for the largest range of the best cross tattoo designs, then go to my A Guide to Tattoo Designs and I will point you in the right direction.