Visually stunning, mysterious, steeped in history and full of deeper meanings – sounds like an ideal choice for tattoos, doesn’t it ?
Well all these descriptions can suit tattoo designs based on Aztec symbols and their culture. The fact is that Aztec is an ancient civilization that has many symbol such as their warriors, the sun and their calendar that have found their way into the world of tattoo designs. Aztecs used these symbols as part of their religious ceremonies and rituals. As like any other tribes the Aztecs would also bestow tattoos on warriors and brave men of the tribe with tattoos to mark special achievements. It was also a way of identifying members of one tribe from another.
The Aztec Sun tattoo: The sun is a sacred symbol to the Aztecs and they worshipped it. They would sacrifice things to the sun and mourn the eclipses when they occurred. They believed that the sun is the most powerful among all the gods and was the protector of this world and the other world – the heavens. For the Aztec the sun symbolizes the heavens or the place that people go to after their life is over.
The Aztec eagle tattoo: Another symbol that the Aztec hold close to their hearts. The eagle tattoo would be given to an Aztec warrior only when they had completed their training and proven their worth in terms of bravery, courage, strength and honor. The eagle was considered a very noble being by the Aztecs, maybe due to its ability to fly close to their object of worship – the sun. The eagle symbol would hold the head pointing to the west with beak open.
The Aztec warrior tattoo: This is another choice that is quite sought after as warriors in the Aztec tribe lived a life of adventure and risks. The Aztec where a tribe that believed in sacrifices of animals and even human prisoners when they were captured in war. The Aztec warrior is fierce and smart and thereby tattoos showing the warrior are really popular. One of the other variations to the Aztec warrior tattoo is that of showing a skull instead of the head.
Meanings and symbolism of other Aztec tattoo designs:
The Aztec gods are another part of their culture that can be seen in tattoo designs. The god Tezcatlipoca who is seen sticking his tongue out can be seen in many tattoos. He is the invisible god of warrior. The other god who is often featured in tattoos is Quetzalcotl who is a serpent god associated with creativity, fertility and weather.
As a norm many pick Aztec designs for their tattoo due to the symbolism in them, there are some that pick these designs based on the look alone. The art of the Aztec is unique and can have a great visual impact. That accounts for the popularity of Aztec designs in tattoos.
For people who have Aztec blood or know people having Aztec roots, these tattoos will mean a lot more. It will mean a link between them and this really rich civilization that had so many customs and traditions. Some may choose to honor this great culture by getting an Aztec based design for their tattoo. Some may do so because the symbols and art of Aztec culture are full of meanings and traditions. There will be some that will pick on these designs merely for the art and aesthetic appeal. No matter what your motivations are, our advice to you would be do some research and then only finalize a design. This way you know you like the design and fully know what it means.
