Today we propose to find out the meaning of a tattoo with a gryphon. This is the name of the legendary mythical animal with the wings and claws of an eagle, and the head and body of a lion. He is often represented as the lord of earth and air. The griffin can often be seen in the art of the Persians. Because of these drawings, the Jews often compared the Persians with this creature.
To the Greeks, the griffin was the personification of hardness and was called none other than one of the most important animals. They believed that this creature guarded the gold of the Hyperboreans somewhere in the far north. In addition, this amazing animal represented the goddess of vengeance herself. In various legends this creature symbolizes arrogance. According to one myth, Alexander the Great himself wanted to ascend to heaven with the help of flying griffins.
In Christian symbolism, he was represented as almost the devil himself, who catches souls. However, he has a positive value - a griffin is called the winner of snakes and basilisks, which are called the embodiment of demons. Interestingly, even the ascension of Jesus Christ is associated with a griffin. This creature is often depicted in heraldry and on works of art. This particular mythical creature combines a lion's strength and an eagle's zeal. The griffin has been known since ancient times. Pictures with him often decorated coats of arms, various objects of life, as well as architectural monuments. For the inhabitants of European countries this creature had a positive solar symbolism. Often the griffin was contrasted with the symbols of evil and night - the dragons.
Among the main qualities of the griffin are nobility, power, vigilance and vengeance. For the inhabitants of Greece, he was a messenger of higher powers. The inhabitants of Russia preferred to decorate their homes with images of a griffin.
What does the tattoo with the image of a griffin mean?
Tattoo with a griffin can be seen on both the male and female body. Such a body drawing means the duality of human nature - the eternal struggle of the light and dark sides.
Among the positive meanings of such a tattoo - courage, loyalty, protection of those who are weaker, nobility. The negative symbolism of the tattoo is a desire for revenge. Whatever your goals, making such a tattoo, you declare about your uncommonness and noble origin. Such drawings do on different parts of the body, but most often on the back, chest and shoulders.
For some people, this kind of body image can seem aggressive. This symbolism can be given to a tattoo in the case where the griffin will be tearing some animal in the picture.
In guys.
Initially, the griffin tattoo belongs to the category of men and carries a pronounced symbolic meaning. In ancient times, griffins were called "dogs of Zeus", and people believed that they were the guardians of treasure. Quite often, this fictional creature, as guardian and patron, was depicted on both sides of the Tree of Life. Therefore, a tattoo of a griffin that kills a snake or dragon carries a positive meaning.
In addition, the griffin also served as a symbol of military service, courage and bravery, so often seen images of a griffin standing on its hind legs. Such a griffin tattoo symbolizes a willingness to fight, unwillingness to put up with current circumstances.
Griffin combines the dualistic forces of nature: lion body indicates the earthly beginning, and the eagle head and wings - the heavenly. This intertwining of the earthly and heavenly has the meaning of a perfect combination of physical strength and intelligence.
Meaning for women
Tattoo in the form of a griffin not so often prefer to do the fair sex. For women, such a body drawing means:
- the struggle of two sides
- courage
- fidelity
- desire for revenge
- protection of the weak
- nobility
Tattoo with a picture of a griffin tells about the strong-willed character of its owner. A woman with such a body image is very generous, but does not like to tolerate insults and is ready to take revenge on all their offenders.
Also representative of the fair sex with a similar body image always wants to protect the weak.
In addition, such a body drawing can tell about the struggle of light and dark sides of a woman.
Sometimes ladies choose tattoos with a griffin because of the originality of the image.
Sketches
For tattoos, you need an idea. It is difficult for the uninitiated to imagine what exactly the future tattoo will look like. All the additional information is kept by the master - you will be surprised by the variety of colors, lines and figures, folded under the stabbing of the skin with the needle of an electric machine.
To give the picture an original, vibrant look will help monochrome shading.
If you choose the classic version, in this case, resort to the imagination of the Greeks: the head with wings is golden, the torso - red.
To make the appearance attractive, to learn, to experience something new, to imprint an individual memory on the body - regardless of the reason, the tattoo has a place to exist and be relevant to this day.
The gryphon is a fictional, mysterious creature from ancient mythology. Its body consists of a combination of the torso of a lion with wings and the head of an eagle. Many ancient legends are associated with this creature. The image of this creature has been of interest to mankind since ancient times.
Meaning for men
Often a beautiful body drawing can be seen on the male body. Such a tattoo for men means:
- nobility
- desire for revenge
- Readiness to protect those who are weaker
- courage
- The struggle between the dark and light sides
Beautiful griffin body art tells about his owner's generosity and fearlessness.
A man with a similar body image is ready to defend the weak and always avenge the offenders. Tattoo with a griffin can mean the internal struggle of light and dark sides.
Sometimes a body drawing with a griffin men choose because of the originality of the picture.
Places of application.
In order for the small details to be visible even from a long distance, it is suggested that a large, massive silhouette be inscribed. Suitable locations are:
Ribs. Gives the effect, but the thin layer of subcutaneous fat in the area of the passage of the ribs gives more nagging pain of medium intensity than the rest of the departments.
Arm. Is not particularly susceptible to pain. The canvas for a single image most often serves the elbow area with a continuation on the forearm. But specialists call the shoulder the universal place all the same.
Thigh. Separate volumetric silhouettes or a plot that spills over to the whole leg - in any of these cases, the muscle layer and thick fat layer will not let the pain manifest itself clearly. But a long application will traumatize the skin, irritate it, and consequently cause painful tingling.
Calves. They can be used to visually correct a part of the body: the oblong pattern in the middle will elongate the short leg end, the dark color scheme will hide the excess weight. People who are pumped up better keep themselves in shape, otherwise the tattoo will lose its former appearance. Unpleasant sensations occur only when going down to the ankle.
Back. A clear advantage - the imagination scope for a whole storyline at a great distance with the ability to easily hide under clothing. Causing genuine interest of others, the place is quite painful (depending on the threshold of sensitivity), increasing near the spine due to a significant cluster of nerve endings.
Choosing the sketch and design, you can adjust the body part, to emphasize the curves, hide the tattoo from others and vice versa, leave the face to public viewing.
Definitely decide will help photos and videos in the galleries of the salons websites. On the basis of the finished work to look closely, to understand, to choose what to like, it is not difficult.
What pattern to choose for a tattoo?
There are many different options for a tattoo with a griffin. Most often, men and women ask the master to do a tattoo in the technique of realism. Such drawings are distinguished by their naturalness. They can be both in color and in black and white.
Representatives of the stronger sex often prefer to make body drawings in the tribal technique. Such images are distinguished by the presence of beautiful patterns.
Tattoos with mythical creatures in the traditional style are some of the most favorite for women. Such images are characterized by visual convexity and colorfulness.
You can make an unusual tattoo on the back, chest, leg, arm, shoulder.
Tattoo styles
Artists are constantly working on creating new directions. Stylistics is not a problem for the person wishing to possess a drawing, it will certainly be taken into account by the master, as well as all the wishes of the person. Examples are offered below:
- 3D format (three-dimensional, detailed illustrations with colorful pigments)
- Watercolor (light, airy style with smooth transitions, reminiscent of watercolor painting)
- Old skool (traditional motifs with smooth borders)
- Surrealism (bizarre, paradoxical shapes)
- Engraving (clear, monochrome outlines with imitation shadows)
- New Sculpture (bright outlined contours)
- Traditional (simple drawings without much detail), etc.
Tattoo of an Eagle - 295 photos and sketches in the gallery!
Tattoo eagles - one of the most popular, and we are not only talking about men, the fair sex recently also often give these noble birds their preference. In general, the proud and powerful bird carries quite strong meanings that can affect the fate of the owner in the best way.
Historical background - the meaning of eagles in cultures
The eagle is a bird of prey. That is why the tattoo of the eagle is so widespread - the bird has been chanted in different cultures, thousands of legends have been composed about it, it was the central character of hundreds of myths.
The eagle is a collective image of all birds of prey and has been given different meanings - mainly the presence of divine power and remarkable capabilities. Some cultures have chanted the cult of the eagle as the conqueror of the element of air. The totems and images of the bird found by archaeologists only confirm the respectful attitude towards it.
Tattoo of an eagle - photo
So, the ancient Sumerians have a legend about a young warrior who tried to destroy the nest of an eagle with chicks.
Once he touched them, the eagle offered peace to resolve the situation - gave him the knowledge of the extraction of fire. Such myths exist in other cultures as well - the image of the majestic bird is largely associated with the flames of fire.
The meaning of the tattoo of eagles is always reminiscent of the command of the fire element, keeping the secrets of the fire of these birds.
In the Aztecs, the honor of the eagle is also associated with its power and strength. The symbolism of the eagle was associated with the power and strength of the birds of prey. The struggle of opposing principles made the eagle a kind of talisman of hope, strength, vitality, as well as favorable news.
Sketches of tattoo eagles are often created with the meaning that this bird was given in the Roman Empire. After the death of the ruler's body was burned, accompanied by a ritual: the eagle was released into the sky in order to make the bird become a conductor of the soul in the divine realm. Since then, the eagle was given a mystical meaning, he symbolizes the purification of the soul, the liberation of the earthly, return to the sources and spirituality.
Tattoo eagle - photo
In the myths of ancient Greece, the eagle is represented as a majestic, powerful predator. This is largely associated with the work of the Iliad, where the image of the bird is revealed with these very qualities. In the Greek myths, Zeus was able to turn into an eagle or enlist his help - the latter served as a messenger to the god.
History of the origin of the Griffin symbol
Most likely the image of the griffin was inspired by the ancient Greek historians by the stories of the Scythian gold prospectors in the Altai, who could observe fossilized bones of Protoceratops dinosaurs freed from the dunes by winds in the sands of the Gobi desert. The description of the griffin is quite applicable to these fossil skeletons (see Skeleton Tattoos): the size of the animal, the presence of a beak, the proximity to golden placers, the horny nape collar of Protoceratops could split from time, and its hulk on the shoulders could create the illusion of ears and wings.
Interesting facts about the significance of the Griffin
- In medieval Europe, he represented the dual nature of Christ - divine and human.
- In Dante's Divine Comedy the griffon pushes Christ's cart (see Tattoos of the Mother of God).
- The gryphon is able to find and secretly store gold, so it came to symbolize science and usury.
- As guardian of the sun, the griffin was dedicated to the sun god Apollo, whose chariot he drove across the sky.
- Heraldry distinguishes between a female griffon - with wings (see Wings tattoos), and a male one - without wings.
- A favorite animal of Edward III, the griffin became one of the royal symbols of the animals of England.
