Traditional Tribal Tattoo Art

Here's an overview of tribes where tattoos played and play an important role in society:

Borneo Tattoos
Tattooing in Borneo (one of islands of Indonesia/Malaysia) is an important form of body modification. The tattoos are believed to protect against pain and diseases. The Iban, Kayan en Kenyah tribes, all headhunters, share the same style of tattoos. The Kayan used carved wood blocks or carved skulls to transfer the designs onto the skin.

Polynesian Tattoos
Polynesia is a group of over 1000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The most famous Polynesian tattoo styles are the Maori, Marquesan, Tahitian, Samoan and Hawaiian styles.

Read more about Polynesian Tattoos

Maori Tattoos
The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. They use a form of personal identification called Ta Moko. Tattoos are used to carve the family history into the skin.

Learn more about Ta Moko and Maori Tattoos

Marquesan Tattoos
The Marquesa islands are a group of islands situated in French Polynesia. The Marquesan tattoo art greatly influenced today's tattoo artists. The hands are an important tattoo spot in the Marquesan tattoo tradition, as well as the ears, the shoulders and the lips.

Hawaiian Tribal Tattoos
Like the other tribal tattoos, tattoos in Hawaii have a hidden meaning and are believed to have magical power. They are applied during a ritual ceremony. Both men and women are tattooed with motifs like triangles, squares, crescents and animals like sharks and lizards.

More about Hawaiian Tattoos

Celtic Tattoos
The Celtic people used to live in tribes spread over Great Britain and parts of Western Europe and were heavily tattooed. Interlacing patterns, spirals and knot work are typical for Celtic tattoos.

More about Celtic Tattoos

Native American Tattoos
Tattoos played a big role in the culture of the American Indians. They were used for identification, to give praise and to give magical powers or protection. Typical Native American tattoo designs include animals (eagles, snakes, bears), feathers and mythical creatures.

Aztec Tribal Tattoos
The Aztecs were another group of Native Americans. They lived in central America from the 13th to the 16th century and used tattoos to mark a warrior's rank and differentiate between the various tribes. Typical Aztec tattoos include gods like Quetzalcoatl and Huitilopochtili, suns and eagles.

Learn more about Aztec Tattoos

Chinese Tribal Tattoos
The history of the Chinese tattoo is not very interesting, but there are several ethnic minorities in China with a strong tattoo tradition. The most important tribes are those of the Dai, Drung and Li.

More about the Chinese Tattoo

Haida Tattoos
The Haidas are the indigenous people of the territory that lies on the west coast of North America (southeast Alaska). The people of the haida tribe decorate their objects with crests (totems) and use tattoos to represent the family crest and social status. The crests included all kinds of animals (killer whale, shark, wolf, eagle, owl) as well as the sun, the moon, clay, ...

Tribal Tattoo Designs

To a certain extent, tribal tattoos speak for themselves. It is a special feature of a tribal tattoo that even a relatively simple or unformed line or curve tends to look good, even just on its own.

In recent years, a style that we can call the New Tribal has emerged. Symbols that have nothing to do with the original tribal designs are combined with the typical lines, curves and interlocking formations of the traditional tribal tattoos. In the case of New Tribals, it is the decoration surrounding the central element that marks them as tribal. Here's an overview of tribal tattoo symbols or symbols that are often combined with tribal designs:

Tribal Dragon Tattoos

The dragon is a mythological creature that appears in many different cultures around the world and has as many different symbolic meanings. The meaning of a tribal dragon tattoo is therefore something personal.

In Asia, dragons are seen as a benevolent creature. The Japanese dragon denotes the male principle (yang): the sun, air, fertility, rain. It symbolizes the dominance of the heavenly over the earthly powers.

In the West the dragon is portrayed as an evil creature, breathing fire to show its mythical power.

Learn more about dragons and dragon tattoos

Tribal Cross Tattoos

The cross is a very old symbol and appears in many religions around the world. A cross is a good symbol to express one's spirituality or religion and it lends itself well to a tribal adaptation

Tribal Rose Tattoos
The rose and flowers in general are popular tattoo designs. Roses can mean a lot of different things, it's a symbol for love, respect, spiritual growth (just like the lotus flower), Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.

More about flower tattoos

Tribal Phoenix Tattoos
The phoenix is a mythological bird that has a very long life and arises from his ashes to be reborn. The phoenix can be found often in Far Eastern tattoo art and is a symbol of rebirth and transformation.

Tribal Sun Tattoos
The sun is a powerful symbol. People have always (literally) looked up to and worshipped that mysterious glowing sphere, so it's not hard to see why it appears in so many legends. The sun is associated with life and fertility (amongst others).

More about Sun Tattoos.

Tribal Tiger Tattoos
The tiger is a very powerful symbol and appears often in Asian tattoo genres. It is a symbol for power, beauty and cruelty.

Tribal Bear Tattoos
The tribal bear tattoo (sometimes depicting a whole bear, but often just a paw print) is reminiscent of some Native American tattoos. It gives the impression of an animal totem or protective animal spirit.

Other symbols that are used often in tribal tattoos:

* Wolf
* Star
* Aztec tribals
* Bird
* Snake
* Zodiac symbols
* Spider
* Eagle
* Fish
* Tree
* Flower
* Sea turtle
* Wings
* Frog
* Cat
* Hummingbird
* Clover
* Scorpion
* Crow
* Fire
* Moon
* Fox
* Butterfly
* Gecko
* Skull

From: freetattoodesigns.org

Feminine Tribal Tattoos

Generally speaking, tribal tattoos have a masculine energy about them, given their bold, thick lines. At the same time, they are versatile and they tend to look very good on women as well. Maybe it’s the appeal of the contrast.

Woman with tribal tattoo

Over the past few years though, some tribal tattoo designs have evolved that are characteristically feminine in nature. They have the same recognizable tribal patterns, but they tend to be smaller and more self contained. A good example might be the tribal butterfly tattoo, a popular choice for an ankle or shoulder tattoo. A larger version of the tribal butterfly can also look good on the lower back. Tribal rose tattoos are also popular in many of the same locations.

From: freetattoodesigns.org

Celebrities With Tribal Tattoos

Celebrities With Tribal Tattoos :
Corey Taylor: Slipknot singer, has many tribals.
Mike Tyson: has a large tribal on the left side of his face.
Pamela Anderson: has a lower back tribal tattoo.
Boy George: has a tribal with a G in it on the side of his neck.
Melanie Brown (Mel B): has several tribals.
Sandra Bullock: has a tribal heart tattoo below her naval.
Anthony Kiedis: Red Hot Chili Peppers singer, has several tribals.
Manny Ramirez: left fielder for the LA Dodgers, has a tribal on his left shoulder.

From: freetattoodesigns.org

Anthony Kiedis Tattoos

Pictures of Anthony Kiedis Tattoos:

50 Cent Tattoos

Various pictures of 50 Cent’s Tattoos:

Robbie Williams Tattoos

Various pictures of Robbie Williams tattoos:

Xzibit Tattoo Pictures

Various pictures of Xzibit’s tattoos:

Bam Margera Tattoo Pictures

Here’s some pictures of Jackass star Bam Margera:

Eminem Tattoo Pictures

Pictures of Eminem’s Tattoos:

Lil Wayne Tattoos

Various pictures of Lil Wayne’s Tattoos:

Nick Carter Tattoos

Various pictures of Nick Carter’s Tattoos:

Beckham’s Tattoo “Prison Break Inspired”

I’m sure many of you are aware of David Beckham’s new 2ft tattoo on his right arm. Word on the street is that David is a huge Prison Break fan & the tattoo resembles Wentworth Miller’s tattoo in the hit TV Show.

The idea behind the tattoo is to make a continuous piece of artwork on David’s arm. It joins up with tattoos on his wrist, upper arm & shoulders.The tattoo was etched just before David left for LA on his Epic journey to join the LA Galaxy football team. Sources say the tattoo represents the deep inner turmoil about making the move to the states & also includes the words “Pray for Me” on the wrist.

“The tattoo is not something Victoria wanted him to go ahead with as she felt it would not be a good start to their time in LA, but David was adamant that he would show his true feelings about the move and stop covering it up, even if it is rather cryptic,” the source added.

The three words are inscribed next to another symbolic piece Beckham apparently wanted to reflect who he feels he has been for the past ten years – a Knight Templar, symbolised by a cross.

The Templar Knights, recognisable by their white mantle with distinct red cross, are for David the symbols of him and the England team.

He asked the tattoo artist to etch the Knight Templar on his arm as he “feels the knights were the best equipped, trained, and disciplined fighting units of the Crusades, just as he has always tried to be as a footballer representing his team of knights”.

The main tattoo on the forearm is a giant angel whose wings meet with the other tattoos. The angel also holds a flame in her hand. Also the words “Let them hate me as long as they fear me” which is a quote by the Roman emperor Tiberius.

Spiderman Tattoos

I thought with the release of the latest Spiderman 3 Movie it would be fitting to display some of the coolest Spiderman Tattoos: