In all cultures, the nobility, in addition to the best weapons, equipment, clothing, food and shelter, even the highest quality and most expensive tattoos, usually had work of excellent and well-paid masters. Often there were certain symbols reserved for certain nobles as a mark of rank and ancestry. Throughout history, one can find many tattoo examples of heraldic symbols among members of European royal and noble families and among the aristocracy of North America, Asia, Africa and Oceania (the Pacific).
Numerous variations of these tattoos denote belonging to a particular people, region, religion, profession or ideology. Within each regional style, there was also a cryptic ranking system of symbols that, just like noble tattoos, showed what status someone with a corresponding tattoo has.
As part of the regional style, these tattoos were reserved for community members who have achieved excellence in war, in a respected craft, or in healing. These tattoos were stamped in passport proof of their long-distance travel and pilgrimages. The credibility of this term was protected by the belief that a tattoo for a performance on a person who does not deserve it will bring misfortune, curse or disease to the tattoo artist and the tattoo artist. This belief made sense, because a swindler would otherwise fall into trouble if he could not prove that he is the appropriate warrior or master.
Throughout history, there are many examples of tattoos that have been used for a cure or to prevent disease. Many mummies were found with, at first glance; purposeless small dots and crosses, and then found traces of arthritis and many other diseases under the tattoo. Commonly known is the fact that a large number of non-infectious, hereditary or injury-caused diseases have their cause in the human psyche and therefore can be treated with many placebos.
For example, tattooing has found its place in traditional medicine in many nations, but unlike other shaman rituals, tattooing strengthens the immune system because the organism forms antibodies during wound healing at the tattoo site, and therefore tattoo ink remains below the tattoo Skin later raises the antibody level.
In all cultures there are initiation rituals that are often associated with tattoos. Whether it is a pre-historic people, today’s fan groups or another closed human circle, here is an individual with his willingness to cope with the unpleasant process of producing a permanent sign of belonging, that he is ready to have a firm opinion and Consequences of this opinion.
Yet another form of ritual tattoo is the tattooing of lucky charms that are said to bring strength, fortune, fortune, and the like, or protect them from misfortune, enchantments, and so on. Such tattoos increase self-confidence in activities that otherwise would not be trusted by a person in fear or superstition.
All of the above tattoo forms lose their original meaning over time and become part of the customs of different cultures, so that designs are still tattooed as decoration, even though their function and meaning are completely forgotten. Although most of today’s tattoo styles are based on old, traditional straps, today they serve only as decoration.
These are mostly mentioned by tattoo opponents, such tattoos were practiced to mark criminals, adulterers, slaves, conquered opponents or outcasts. Ancient Athenians, for example, tattooed owls on war prisoners, the symbol of Athens. The Greeks tattooed offenses such as laziness or food craving with slaves on the face, while in medieval Japan; small criminals were tattooed with their crimes on the face or forearm in order to punish them even more severely if they repeat the crime.
The last example of such a tattoo is well-known numbers on the forearms of criminals in Nazi concentration camps from World War II. The traditional tattooing can be divided into several groups:
Meaning and Symbolism
The griffin has the trunk and hind legs of a lion. The head with the pronounced beak is that of an eagle.
Likewise the wings and forelegs of a griffin are those of a majestic eagle. With his powerful claws the griffin digs for gold, emeralds and precious metals. He is considered a guardian and protector of entire areas.
Preferably, these are areas with a very high amount of mineral resources. The griffin prefers to live in the wilderness and especially in the mountains, where he can survey everything.
Already in ancient Egypt and in Mesopotamia griffins were known to humans and even the ancient Greeks were well acquainted with the “birds”. In Greek and Roman mythology, the griffin was an animal of Apollo. Ancient depictions depict the god of light, prophecy and the arts, sometimes with lyre, sometimes with harp and with a griffin at his side.
Even in the middle Ages one actually believed in their existence. Today’s ornithologist would probably beat the heart at the sight of a griffin and equally a cold shiver would run down his spine. The Greifswald coat of arms gives an impression of what the view through the spotting scope would reveal – something quite fabulous. Traditional depictions show a powerful double-tailed animal with wings. His body is that of a lion, but his head and claws come from the eagle. It thus unites the attributes of the two kings of the animal kingdom: the strength of the lion with the speed of the eagle. After the lion, the eagle is the second most common heraldic animal in the world.
And not by chance. The bird of prey embodies strength, perseverance and wisdom and has been considered a symbol of power and domination since ancient times. He finds veneration worldwide in almost all cultures. As an animal of the Greek and Roman divine kings Zeus and Jupiter, he is their faithful companion and thus fulfills many tasks. Greek mythology knows a few examples. At the behest of Zeus, an eagle abducted the handsome boy Ganymede to Olympus. Presumably it was also the god father himself, who turned into an eagle. And who does not know the fate of Prometheus, whom Zeus had chained to a mountain in the Caucasus, because he stole the fire for the people? An eagle ate his daily liver, until Heracles finally shot him with an arrow and released him from the tortured.
The griffin has tremendous physical powers and magical abilities. He can look far into the future and predict many events with his innate scholarly nature. It is often hunted for this mythical creature, because his feathers, put on blinded eyes, make them see again. Also very popular among the hunters are the claws of a griffin, because they change their color, if the contained drink or food is poisoned. If you even get to the eye of a griffin, then you can see it very far away – like with a super telescope.
The griffin occurs as mythical creature in many cultures. The eagle lion was especially in the middle Ages a highly respected but also much feared mythical creature. The area where he built his nest was protected and guarded by him. He made sure that no strangers could unseen the city walls and defended the natural resources of the area.
Gods and rulers felt safe with a griffin as guardian, since they thought themselves well protected and protected from attackers and robbers. The enormous eyesight of the griffin was able to detect new arrivals miles before they arrived, and plunderers of precious precious metals were very seldom able to get away with the treasures and the lives. Many important rulers have given their griffin a place of honor in their coat of arms.
Design and Ideas
Griffin is a powerful mythological creature with an even more powerful combination of animals. Griffin represents a combination of a powerful and strong lion and even more powerful eagle.
Both of them are rulers, each of its own territory. With such a strong symbolical significance behind it, Griffin represents a very powerful tattoo.
When it comes to designs, Griffins are usually represented I their natural form, and sometimes with prey in their claws or mouth. By themselves they are already powerful statements, so there is no need to add anything else to make this tattoo look even more powerful. Griffin can be a symbol of strength and power you feel, especially after overcoming many difficult moments in life.
This tattoo is mostly favored by males, but there is no rule that women can’t have them on their bodies as well. Griffins are going to be a strong statement on your body, and you can do this tattoo in both color and black and white. In both cases, the most important thing is to find a good tattoo artist who is going to bring the image of powerful Griffin to life and make it look realistic on your skin.
This powerful tattoo is a symbol of aristocracy and power, but it is also a symbol of kings and emperors. Whoever chooses to wear this tattoo, he has to know the symbolical significance behind it and how this symbol has a strong cultural reference in many cultures.