Christian Cross Tattoos

Christian Cross Tattoos
Religious people are often tempted to get a tattoo displaying their sentiments. Christianity has no prohibitions, and as a result of this, Christian cross designs are very popular and widespread.
Religious body art has long been a popular choice for Americans and people from other countries as well, and none more so than Christian cross designs. There are many variations possible with these tattoos, and each one can be altered to suit the individual's mentality. Displaying one's belief in God and religion is something that has always captured the imagination of the masses.

The most attractive thing about these designs is their unlimited versatility. They can be designed to signify a large number of things, and they are available in an endless array of sizes and colors. In order to add a larger sense of personalization to these designs, a special message can also be added to these tattoos.

The Latin cross (or the Crux Ordinaria) is a design that is liked by men and women alike, but it must be noted that not all 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.

Pre-Christian Crosses

You may or may not be aware of this, but the fact is that crosses have been popular designs since long before Christianity showed up. There are many older pagan religions that commonly used crosses as their marks, or worshiped the symbol for varied reasons. Here are some of the pre-Christian interpretations of crosses in religion and society:
  • Celtic druids viewed it as a phallic symbol.
  • In some cultures, the vertical bar denoted the male phallus, and the horizontal bar denoted the female vagina.
  • The Assyrians viewed it as a directional navigator to prevent people from getting lost.
  • The Babylonians associated it with their Moon deity.
  • The Egyptians viewed the Ankh symbol as a denotation of the union between Isis and Osiris.
When these 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 endured as well. There are no rules in Christianity that prohibit a person from getting a tattoo, unlike some other religions.

The vertical line in the most common Latin crosses that are a part of Christianity signifies the divine, while the horizontal line signifies the world. It is therefore viewed as an intersection between the two. If the design shows a picture of Jesus Christ nailed on to it, it is known as a crucifix. Combining some Latin text with a cross is a very well-known design, and some people even opt for placing a rosary or a crown of thorns on top of it, as an allusion to Christ's crucifixion.

There are many variations that can be added, 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 them with scorn. This is simply their opinion, because ultimately, each individual has their own way of being devout.