People who are religious by nature, are often tempted to get a tattoo displaying their sentiments. Christianity has no prohibitions against tattoos, and as a result of this, Christian cross tattoos are very popular and widespread.
eligious tattoos have long been a popular choice for Americans and people from other countries as well, and none more so than Christian cross tattoos. There are so many variations possible with these tattoos, and each one can be altered in a way to suit the individual’s particular mentality. Displaying one’s affection and belief for God and religion is something that has always captured people’s imagination, and there are a multitude of Christian cross tattoos that one can choose from.
The most attractive thing about Christian cross tattoo designs is their unlimited versatility. They can be designed to signify a large number of things, and they are available in an endless number of sizes and colors. A special message can also be added to these tattoos, in order to add a larger sense of personalization to these tattoo designs.The Latin cross (or the Crux Ordinaria) is a design that dominates most Christian cross tattoos for men and women, but it must be noted that not all the cross tattoos that you see are religious in nature. Some people get them simply because they look attractive, or can be made to look attractive by altering certain aspects of the design. Tribal cross tattoos are a good example of this, as they create a unique blend of tribal tattoos and Christian cross tattoos.
Pre-Christian Crosses
You may or may not be aware of this, but the fact of the matter is that crosses have been popular designs long before Christianity showed up. There are many older Pagan religions that commonly used crosses as their marks, or worshiped the symbol of a cross for many varied reasons. Here are some of the pre-Christian interpretations of crosses in religion and society.
- Celtic druids viewed the cross as a phallic symbol. Read more about Celtic tattoos.
- In some cultures, the vertical bar denoted the male phallus, and the horizontal bar denoted the female vagina.
- The Assyrians viewed the cross as a directional navigator to prevent people from getting lost.
- The Babylonians associated the cross with their Moon deity.
- The Egyptians viewed the Ankh cross symbol as a denotion of the union between Isis and Osiris.
As you can see, the fascination with Christian cross tattoos runs beyond Christianity, and its roots lie much deeper than that. Here are some cross tattoo designs for men for you.
Christian Cross Tattoos
When these cross tattoos are used as a reference to Christianity, it symbolizes the victory of Jesus Christ over the dead and the Romans who crucified him. Crucifixion was a very common way of executing prisoners and slaves at that time, and this is something Jesus Christ endured as well. There are no rules in Christianity that prohibit a person from getting a tattoo, unlike some other religions. Christian cross tattoos for women and men are thus allowed by the religion itself, and are therefore very popular ways of expressing one’s devotion to God.
The vertical line in the most common Latin crosses that are a part of Christianity, signify the divine, while the horizontal line signifies the world. The cross is therefore viewed as an intersection between the two. If the cross shows a picture of Jesus Christ nailed on to it, it is known as a crucifix. Combining some Latin text with Christian cross tattoos is a very well known design, and some people even opt for placing a rosary or a crown of thorns on top of the cross, as an allusion to Christ’s crucifixion.
There are many variations that can be added to Christian cross tattoos, and even the most devout Christians opt for these designs sometimes, as a show of their devotion. Some people view tattoos as a defilement of the body, and therefore look upon Christian cross tattoos with scorn. This is simply their opinion, because ultimately, each individual has their own way of being devout. By Rahul Thadani
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