Sailors are well known for getting tattoos to commemorate rank, experiences, and loved ones they miss from home. Some sailors opt for tattooing a nautical star, or compass rose on their knuckles to symbolize the north star and assist them in finding their way home. Others might get an anchor tattoo representing something stable, like their love or family members who have their back.
Mermaid
Mermaids have long been revered figures that have inspired artists throughout history. From paintings and poems to paintings and poetry, mermaids have long been depicted as mysterious yet beautiful figures who enchant us all in pictures, music videos, movies, and even folklore – both humans and nautical alike! It has long been thought that they have roamed the seven seas seducing sailors with their beauty and singing siren songs to them!
People who enjoy swimming often seek mermaid Tattoos to represent their love for both. Mermaid tattoos symbolize freedom and independence; their designs can range from cartoony to realistic styles and be combined with other nautical symbols like anchors and ships. These mermaids may even represent femininity and sensuality depending on how they pose their bodies or express facial features.
Pinup Girl
Tattoos depicting pinup girls are iconic American body art from vintage America. Reminiscent of an era long since gone, these tattoos feature curvier lines and vibrant hues that can be edited according to personal taste.
Pin-up girls evoke feelings of innocence and flirtatiousness. She’s sexual but never explicit, seducing men worldwide with her beauty. Additionally, pin-up girls challenge the dubious ideology of immodest female sexuality, which first ignited women’s sexual liberation movements worldwide.
Pin-up girls were at their peak of popularity during World War II and beyond, often used as motivation for soldiers and sailors at war; pictures of these beauty queens would adorn lockers as a symbol of home.
Skunk
Tattooing oneself with the image of a skunk symbolizes strength and courage, representing people who face challenges head-on without backing down from their values or beliefs. Furthermore, those sporting such Tattoos tend to be highly protective over loved ones, as skunks are known for using powerful sprays as defense mechanisms against enemies.
When this creature enters your life, it should serve as a reminder that you need to respect yourself more. Perhaps in the past, you allowed others to bully or walk all over you without fighting back; now is the time to end this pattern and learn how to tap into your inner power and strength as well as defend yourself when necessary. When this creature makes itself known to you, take notice. It could be telling.
Anchor
Anchors have long been worn as symbols of safety and stability by sailors to remind themselves of what they hope to find in life. Weighted iron weights with flukes suspended from cable or chain and dropped into bodies of water to prevent ships from drifting by wind or current are an effective means of stopping their movements.
Sailors who sport an anchor tattoo on their wrist identify as boatswain’s mates, responsible for maintaining and operating the ship’s hull, deck, cargo handling systems, and mooring arrangements. A tattoo depicting a hula girl or a palm tree indicates they served in Hawaii. An individual wearing a shark emblem on their shoulder conveys strength, courage, and resilience – qualities essential for survival.
Lighthouse
Lighthouses were once an icon of life at sea for sailors; they symbolized protection, hope, stability, leadership ability, and more. While lighthouses may no longer be in widespread use today, their symbolism remains strong – getting a lighthouse tattoo can encourage you to keep going during difficult times.
Lighthouse Tattoos can be personalized and meaningful by including additional design elements that symbolize its guidance. Nautical symbols like compasses and anchors often show this feature; waves or clouds may add aesthetic interest; splashes of ink often used in traditional Tattoos can help simulate spray or crashing waves and bring movement.
