The sun is a very ancient symbol used by many cultures, religions, estates and races. There are as many interpretations of it as there are ancient nations. In most cases, the sun is interpreted as a symbol of the progenitor god. It was present in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Egypt, Macedonia, Anglo-Saxony, Paganism, and even among occult groups.
In ancient Egypt the sun was associated with the god Ra, one of the older gods according to belief. At the same time, the symbol of the sun was worn by kings, their servants, temple attendants, and ordinary believers. In every temple this symbol was depicted under the dome and on the floor of the prayer rooms, and its parts were made exclusively of gold.
In Rome, the sun was considered the patron saint of warfare. The sun, along with the symbol of the eagle, was worn by legionaries who rose to the rank of Praetorian. It was believed that the symbol of the sun, worn near the heart, protected the legionnaire from death in battle. It was also associated with the god Mars, who was considered the patron saint of all warriors.
In ancient Gaul, paganism also used this symbol in religion. It was considered a sign of fertility, prosperity, love and social happiness. Many preachers, priests and simply servants of cults sewed the sun on their clothes, which meant their wisdom, enlightenment in all matters. It is worth taking a closer look at how this symbol is depicted in various styles of tattoos.
In the style of abstraction
Abstraction is an extraordinary style, with its own twist and quirks. A special feature of the style is the use of multiple objects that visually form a complete story. Any colors are used, as well as artistic techniques, including shading, volume and others. Everything depends on the sketch and the chosen finished picture (if the project is not the author's).
In terms of plot design, abstraction also makes it possible to use the entire imagination of both the master and the client. The drawing in the form of the sun, composed of mosaic elements, each of which can be depicted as a separate element, an example of a segment, with a pattern of the zodiac sign, is in demand. Also popular is the plot in the form of the sun, drawn in the form of a silhouette, on a background of geometric figures.
Tattoo in Abstraction can be any size, therefore places for drawing also can be any. For large subjects, the entire back area or the entire chest, along with the abdomen is ideal. For medium pictures you can choose shoulders, whole arms, thighs, calves, stomach. Part of the chest. For small tattoos fit the hands, feet, neck, lower back and other parts of the body with a small area of skin.
For girls
The female half of humanity loves the beautiful, mysterious, magical, what the moon patronizes. Despite this, girls could not deny themselves the pleasure of getting a symbol of light protection, rebirth, real power, which embodies the tattoo of the sun. Especially since there is always an opportunity to pick up for yourself one of the many images in any of the styles you like.
There are realistic and tribal tattoo motifs, in the form of ancient symbols and floral interpretations, combined with an inscription and a pattern, the moon or a bird. Drawing can be applied to any part of the body - neck, shoulder, arm, wrist or spine. Female types of tattoos are more graceful, original and delicate.
In the style of Watercolor
Watercolor is a picturesque style, which is most beloved for its brightness, juiciness and colorfulness. It makes the most of the entire palette of colors, but is quite modest in its use of artistic techniques. Watercolor often uses natural motifs in subjects, and the sun in this case would be the best fit as the main object in the drawing.
Since Watercolor is a bright style, the sun in the subjects found its popularity. Depict it as a silhouette or halo, with the symbol itself, more often than not, as an additional object, with other natural motifs. For example, on the back looks great sun with a halo, against the background of the waves of the sea or ocean. Also popular is the plot with the flaming sun, towering over a clearing or forest.
Watercolor allows you to score tattoos of any size. For example, large ones will be appropriate on the chest, or on the back, provided that these body parts are quite massive and wide. For medium-sized tattoos, the shoulder or lower back will be excellent. Which is very popular with girls. Small plots can be depicted on the forearm, hand, foot, scapula and other places.
In guys.
The luminary, symbolizing light, wisdom, justice, and positive energy, suits the masculine part of society in the best way possible. It can be applied "for good luck", as a provider of endless power, a beautiful talisman, positive change in life, or as evidence of certain character traits and actions on the zone.
In the style of Blackwork
Blackwork came to the CIS and Russian Federation from the United States, and is still one of the most popular styles. It uses only 1 color. No shadows, no volumes, only a deep, solid black. And despite the parsimony of the palette and art part, Blackwork allows you to depict anything, anywhere.
For example, the Sun has found its place in this style, and it is quite a popular symbolism in Blackwork tattoos. It can be depicted simply hammered in black, with rays in the form of tongues of flame. You can score the area around it in black, and leave the sun silhouette itself in skin color. You should not expect any special frills in the design from this style, it is not intended for that.
For tattoos in the Blackwork style choose rather large areas of the body and sometimes even combine them. For example, make a drawing in the whole back, capturing at the same time the chest and shoulders with biceps. Accordingly, the tattoo looks better on a massive body, because the style is more suitable for the male customers with a developed muscular torso.
Cultural Traditions
In many cultures, the solar signs represent masculinity. The moon, respectively, is the opposite - the feminine passive beginning, inextricably linked to the subconscious, intuition, mysticism.
It is unlikely that anyone will purposefully use the deeper meanings of the signs of the sun and moon, however, many still seek to compensate for these two beginnings. For example, a couple can put the sun on a guy's body and the moon on a girl's body, which will mean that they form a single whole.
In Geometry style.
Geometry is a style that is complicated, sometimes incomprehensible, but no less beautiful. It is a gathering style that is based on lines, squares, circles and parallelepipeds. Sometimes the plots are so complex and intricate that it is difficult to discern clearly any object in them. However, for this feature and love Geometry as a tattoo style.
The sun in geometry is depicted in different ways. For example, a circle is printed, which schematically and represents the sun or halo, as well as the rays - either in lines or triangles. Also, sometimes the sun is depicted schematically simply from lines. It looks beautiful and interesting, especially on a woman's delicate arm or shoulder.
Geometry is versatile in the size aspect of the tattoo. You can make a big beautiful tattoo in the whole back, however, you will have to work more densely with the plot so that it does not look empty. It is possible to put a sun in Geometry on a part of the chest or on the shoulder, that will also look great on the body of a person of any build. For a better choice, it is worth consulting in advance with the master in the salon.
Pythagoras and the pentagram
The ancient scholar Pythagoras considered the pentagram as a geometric sign. Recognizing the uniqueness and perfection of this figure, he made the drawing symbolic for members of his school. With the help of the pentagram, the followers of Pythagoras could easily recognize each other. They associated the idealism of the symbol with the ease of its depiction and the accuracy of its forms.
The Pythagoreans believed that the pentagram was a reflection of the whole world. Each end of the star represented a particular symbol of the globe:
- The corner on the bottom left symbolized Earth, constancy, moral and physical strength;
- The lower right ray of the star represented the element of Fire, determination and courage;
- The right angle stood for Water, symbolizing intuition and the emotional side of man;
- The left corner was associated with the element of Air, creativity and art;
- The topmost corner was considered the embodiment of spirituality and higher reason.
In the religion of European Christians pentagram was also important. In addition to moral and physical strength, it also denoted the five senses of man. According to another interpretation, the number of corners of the star represented the number of wounds received by Jesus Christ. The number 5 also signified the number of beautiful feelings Mary had for her son.
In the style of the Graphic.
Graphics is a unique style, both in terms of artistic value and in the aspect of tattooing. It is best suited to those who like gothic motifs with a touch of mysticism. Graphics uses only black color, however, the style is very rich in artistic techniques. In fact, tattoos in Graphics, are almost paintings on canvas in the same style as can be seen on large quality tattoos.
Graphics is a large-scale style that allows you to give your imagination free rein. Of the subjects with the sun, the image of the black sun over the battlefield, a field literally strewn with dead soldiers, stands out especially. They also depict the sun with the outline of a face or even a bird inside it. The subject of the sun with flaming rays, which sets behind the mountains, is in particular demand.
Since the style is rich in story compositions, the tattoo can be done for any place on the body. Large compositions are tattooed on the entire back, while capturing the waist and sides of the torso. The same goes for the chest, which is taken along with the abdomen and sides of the torso. For medium-sized paintings, the shoulders, part of the chest, games, forearms, thighs are better suited. For miniature subjects, you can choose hands, feet and even the neck - it all depends on the tattoo itself and the client's pain threshold.
Options
The image of the sun can be the basis for a wide variety of subjects:
- A yellow luminary with straight or flowing rays;
- The red sun;
- a sunrise or sunset scene;
- the deity of the sun;
- sun and moon against a black sky with stars;
- An earthly landscape placed in a circle, such as the sun peeking out from behind a high mountain, illuminating a valley that stretches out.
There may be many variations of the picture. Ask the master if he ever worked with such sketches. Perhaps you will be prompted the most successful solution.
In the style of the Engraving
Engraving is a modern trendy style of tattoo that originates from the metal engraving craft of the same name. Only black is used, but artistically the engraving has a number of unique features. For example, all lines are applied with a slight effect of internal shadow, which allows you to "deepen" the picture, as it happens in the engraving on the real metal. That is, the tattoo literally looks like engraved on the body of the wearer.
The sun has also found its place in the Engraving. It is depicted, more often than not, as a separate independent object, with rays, face, with shadows. Sometimes the master at the request of the client can even put a textured pattern, and the tattoo will look really hammered in the metal, which looks creative, beautiful and interesting. Also popular are subjects of a more religious nature, using the symbol of the sun.
Engraving is a versatile style that allows you to get a tattoo of any size and in any location on the body. Such tattoos look especially beautiful on flat areas, for example, on half of the chest, on the massive shoulder, shoulder blade or thigh. The choice of location directly depends on the size of the tattoo, the plot and the client's pain threshold.
Meaning of tattoos in men and women
As mentioned above, in most cultural traditions, the sun is a male symbol. For example, in China. There it denotes yang energy, masculine, active, active and authoritative force.
The Chinese sun symbol looks like this: a red disk with a three-legged raven, whose legs represent sunrise, zenith and sunset. In men such a tattoo will denote all the traditionally masculine positive qualities.
But in Japan, the sun is a strictly feminine symbol. There, the sun is the physical embodiment of the goddess of women and snakes Amaterasu.
There, the sun symbol is radiant beauty, the birth of a new day, and the power of life. The case is not an isolated one. In the traditional culture of Mexico and Germany, the sun is also a symbol of a woman, the goddess mother.
Linework Style
Linework style is a bit like Geometry, but has a number of its key features. As is clear from the name, the style is based on the work of lines. From them the whole plot is formed. Lines can be curved, straight, thick, thin - any. This style uses mostly only black, but it is almost absent of artistic elements such as shadows and volume.
Since Linework drawings are more schematic, there is not much variety in the subjects of this style, except for the intricacy of the patterns. The sun is depicted by lines, may have intertwining, rays, which are drawn in the form of entanglements of different lines. Also the sun can have a halo, depicted also by lines, but already thicker.
Lianework is a fairly compact style, which is more suitable for medium-sized tattoos. Therefore, the locations on the body are chosen accordingly. The shoulders, chest, neck, thighs, calves, shoulder blades, parts of the torso, lower back, and even the neck are excellent. That is, the choice of places is large enough, both for open wear, and for hidden.
Tattoo of the sun on the wrist
The sun tattoo on the wrist Will perfectly suit those who have decided to make a small tattoo. It can be a colored fireball or a drawing in an ethnic style.
Tattoo of the sun on the wrist
Tattoo of the sun on the wrist - photo
Tattoo of the sun on the wrist
Tattoo of the sun on the wrist
Tattoo of the sun on the wrist
Old Style
Oldschool is a style revered by the older generation of tattoo lovers. Most of all loved by customers for the specificity of imitating the old technique of tattooing, with an explicit copying of the shades of the old types of paints. The style does not use bright colors, and from the subjects can use anything.
The sun in Oldschool is also popular. It is depicted as a separate stand-alone object, as an additional object, or even as part of something. For example, the drawing of the sun on the background of the flag, stylized as a pirate flag, is in demand. Or just a large sun, against which the skull with bones or weapons, or even a motorcycle is depicted. Locations under the tattoo can choose absolutely any, but most in demand tattoo on the shoulder.
What does the tattoo pentagram mean?
The tattoo pentagram has received 2 directions of meaning. In both cases, it has a supernatural origin and carries a sacred meaning. The first interpretation is taken from cults that go back over 2,000 years.
The five-pointed star in Babylon represented the sun. She had the name Shamash. It was also dedicated to Ishtar, the goddess of fertility.
In this reading, it means..:
- love;
- fertility;
- heavenly fire;
- the stars of Anubis;
- the five elements;
- the power of the mind over nature;
- harmony;
- protection from dark forces, etc.
Originally, the star had no clear symmetry. This is why off-center stars are not wrong. They also have a protective function.
In ancient Greece, Pythagoras wrote that the pentacle represents the four elements and the mind of man. From here came the image of a man inscribed in the star. The fifth dominant element is the ether. That is why the human spirit is considered to be an important element in the pentacle.
From the point of view of neo-pagan cultures, the five-pointed sign strengthens the will and enshrines harmony in man. According to the Wiccan movement, which inherited the Celtic culture, the pentacle is the unity of spirit, soul and heart of the bearer.
Through its extremities, it comes into contact with the earth, air, water and fire. Creating in the body the stream of vital energy, the owner of a tattoo becomes the harmonious person receiving support of the Universe.
Tattoo on the shoulder, photo by:
The alchemist Agrippa of Nettesheim inscribed the pentacle in a circle. Thus concluding the cycle of substances and elements in a single cycle. The modern star has an equilateral structure, enclosed in a sphere and considered a protective symbol regardless of denomination or belief.
With the creation of the cult of Satan by the Church of La Vieille, the design was adopted and transformed. The new religious current refers to the writings of another occultist alchemist, Eliphas Levi. With him, the star meant "The Key to Black Magic." The drawing was inverted, shifting the rays upwards. The inscription "Samael Lilith" was placed between them.
According to the new reading, the drawing was to refer to the two representatives from the Cabala - the Prince of Darkness and the first woman Lilith. Until the twentieth century, the sign continued to carry the meaning of the seal of Baphomet, the deity with the black goat's head.
After the transformation, the inscription disappeared from the drawing. It was replaced by the alchemical sulfur, which is the second official symbol of La Vieja Church. In the new reading, the devil's pentagram has the meaning of glorification of the Dark Prince and the patronage of all adherents of black magic.
Polynesia style.
Polynesia is a very interesting style that is often referred to as "tablecloth" because its weaves and patterns resemble intricate knitting. And, although the style uses only black, it has the ability to depict almost anything schematically.
The sun in Polynesia is depicted as a flat circle with different patterns both inside and outside. That is, there are practically no unpainted areas in the object itself. Especially chic such a tattoo looks on the massive shoulders, chest, or on these two areas of the body together, if the picture is large enough.
What are the meanings of a tattoo?
To understand what this or that tattoo with the sun means, it is necessary, first of all, to understand what cultural tradition it reflects.
In ancient religions, the sun, more often than not, was considered the eye of the supreme deity. This is Zeus in the ancient Greeks, the Scandinavian warrior Odin, Ahura Mazda in the Vedic tradition, the right eye of the Egyptian Horus, even the eye of the relatively "recent" Allah.
In this sense, the tattoo will signify that the wearer is guarded by divine forces, "looking out" for him. It can also mean that the eye of the bearer of such a tattoo is open to more than others.
The sun is also a universal symbol of warmth and light. In such, a general cultural sense, the tattoo would signify:
- universal love;
- harmony with the world;
- the light of truth;
- the light of knowledge;
- the promise to always light the way for others;
- the promise to bring warmth and peace to people.
It has an interesting meaning in the Celtic and Aztec tradition. There it is associated with a purely spiritual power, devoid of physical embodiment, with a higher spirit and freedom without limits. It is interesting that in these cultures the sun cult, especially in the Aztecs, was very bloody and cruel.
In the ancient consciousness freedom and the highest manifestation of power and spirit was tightly correlated with sacrifice and violence. Therefore, the symbol of the sun, stylized in the tattoo in these cultures, will mean the pursuit of perfection of the spirit and inner boundless freedom in any way, without regard to morality. A person with such a tattoo aspires to the ideals of the Nietzschean superhuman.
In this form, the sun is associated in some cultures with the image of the serpentine hero, that is, the conqueror of the original evil. These are Gore and Seth, Apollo and Python. In this sense, the sun is a symbol of strength and victory, heroism and the spirit of war.
Popular compositions
The choice of tattoo, sketch and drawing, depends on the stylistics. If you want to stuff a bright, beautiful and noticeable image, you can choose just the sun as a separate object, and depict it in Watercolor. If one wants to wear something more mystical and mysterious, the ideal choices would be Engraving and Graphic, with an image of a large black sun.
History of the sun tattoo
As already mentioned, in all cultures of the world the sun is a cult heavenly luminary. With the ancient Slavs and Egyptians tattoo the sun personified the god Ra. In more recent times, the Slavs called the sun god Yarilo, and worshipped him as the personification of fertility and wisdom. The Mayan peoples considered the sun a symbol of freedom, youth and strength of spirit. In ancient Rome, the sun was the patron saint of creative, eccentric people and those engaged in science. To the Greeks, the sun was an all-seeing eye and a symbol of justice.
Tattooing Locations
Locations on the body are chosen based on the size of the tattoo, a person's pain sensations and for hidden or open wear. For example, if one wants a medium sized tattoo, but the dress code does not allow it to be worn openly, one may stuff it on the shoulder blade or chest, and wear it under a shirt or T-shirt. The neck, calves, forearms, shoulders and other areas are fine for open wear. It is best to consult on this issue with a master in a tattoo parlor.
Tattoo of the sun on the chest
Among men popular option tattoo the sun on the chest. Usually it is the sunrise, the first rays.
Tattoo of the sun on the chest - photo
Tattoo of the sun on his chest
Plot sun tattoo on the chest
Tattoo of the sun on his chest
Tattoo sun on chest
Chest sun tattoo
Won't the talisman have a negative impact on life?
Before you score a tattoo with a religious motif, you should be serious about choosing a sketch and especially the placement of the design. Take care that in any position of your body a pentagram with its top looking up and its two ends looking down (if you stuff a drawing with the meaning of amulets). It is also better to choose placement in which the tattoo will be hidden from prying eyes. If you have other tattoos, do not tattoo the pentagram next to it, as it may affect the meaning of the sign. Remember that ancient symbols can greatly control a person's life, even if he himself does not believe in it.
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Style ideas for a tattoo
- The minimalist pentagram tattoo is a common option, as the sketches do not have much fine detail and require only the clarity of the design.
- Artistic design of the five-pointed star - realism or black and white tradition (suitable for composite drawings).
- Combination of tribal, steampunk and biomechanics styles - tattoo performed in these techniques looks realistic and often somewhat intimidating, it is assumed that the pentagram is part of the human body.
- Dotwork or graphics - the original version of the image of the pentagram with the help of dots and thin lines.
- Thresh-polka - addition of frightening elements to the picture, drips of red paint (ideal for tattoos with satanic meanings).
To make the result pleasing to the eye
Many clients of tattoo salons, and the masters themselves, make a gross mistake by giving a minimum of time to the pre-procedural consultation. Quite in vain! During the exchange is a balanced analysis of the wishes of the client, a preliminary agreement, which then necessarily must be fixed on paper.
During the communication, the client and the master can view photos of already completed work on the chosen topic, to agree on all the nuances of the developed sketch. It will not be bad if the master will show his diplomas and certificates, testifying about his sufficient qualification.
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