Egyptians have a rich culture and history. Egyptians were among the many people who practiced ancient art. The Egyptians’ love for the ancient art is present in their structures, paintings and even tattoos. The thing about Egyptian art is that it uses symbols that are hard to decipher which make their art even more admirable and intriguing for many people worldwide.
You can show your appreciation to Egyptian ancient art by getting Egyptian tattoos. Even if you don’t have Egyptian roots, you can still get this kind of tattoo design. You just have to remember to research the meaning of your chosen symbols or designs to avoid offending other cultures and beliefs.
One of the reasons why Egyptian tattoos are extremely popular even up to this day is because of its rich symbolic and ornate imagery. It is a challenge for most people to decipher the meaning behind Egyptian symbols because one symbol could mean two different things. This makes their art more mysterious and more intriguing.
Types of Egyptian Tattoos
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There are several types of Egyptian Tattoos you can get today. These tattoos use both ancient and modern symbols to create a perfect masterpiece. The Egyptian artworks and symbols are quite unique because they have well-hidden meanings. Today, there are still tons of Egyptian symbols historians have yet to find out the meaning. For this reason, some people think that other forces, which may be mystical in nature, influenced the formation of Egyptian artworks.
If you want to get your very own Egyptian tattoos, then here are a few outstanding designs you can use:
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The Ankh Egyptian Tattoos
This is a very simple design that is very meaningful to Egyptians. The Ankh is a Latin word that literally means “cross”. In this design, the cross has a loop, looking more like a head, instead of the usual top arm of the cross. The design is very symbolic because ancient Egyptians closely associate it with Life. Actually, this symbol is to depict the Key of Life. This is probably the reason why every Egyptian has this symbol in either one hand, or both hands.
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Egyptian Pharaoh Tattoos
This symbolic tattoo is a part of numerous generations. A pharaoh was the one who ruled the ancient Egypt. A pharaoh is comparable to a king in the modern day setting. The Pharaoh has the highest authority and power during a specific era in the past. As a tattoo design, it means power and authority. Usually, the first and last Pharaohs of the land are the ones who appear in tattoo designs.
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The Eye
This is by far the most famous Egyptian symbol known in almost all parts of the world. This symbol is still in movies and books, which led to its extreme popularity. Actually, there is a story why this symbol is highly revered by Egyptians. This Eye belonged to an ancient Egyptian God named Horus. Stories say Horus lost his eye in a battle, and was found somewhere after a while. Many Egyptians believed that this Eye could see everything that is bound to happen to the people of Egypt. When you use this symbol as a tattoo design, it usually means protection, power and strength.
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Bastet Egyptian Tattoos
Egyptians believed in Gods and Goddesses. Bastet is one of the deities in ancient Egyptians. Bastet is the protector of Lower Egypt – the reason why it is highly respected by Egyptians. People say she fought with the evil snakes in order to preserve peace and order all over Lower Egypt. Women usually adore this tattoo design, even today.
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The Sphinx
When you talk about Ancient Egypt, you will always encounter countless stories about the Sphinx. The Sphinx has become very iconic, not only in Egypt but in other parts of the world as well. A Sphinx is a mythical creature that is quite unique. It consists of a human head, but has the body of a lion. It is famous for being merciless and treacherous. There is a story about some people who were not able to answer the riddle given by the Sphinx. As a result if their failure, they were thrown to a place where there are ferocious beasts waiting to feed on their bodies. Although it has quite a negative meaning, it’s still popular to both men and women as a tattoo design.
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Meaning of Egyptian Tattoos
Egyptian tattoos and symbols are quite hare to interpret. In fact, there are still ancient symbols that artists are trying to decipher until today. The meaning of Egyptian inspired tattoos greatly vary depending on the symbols used in the design. There are tattoos that symbolize positive characteristics, while there are also other tattoo designs that connote negative meanings.
In general, Egyptian tattoos represent divine connections. Tattoos with this meaning usually include Egyptian Gods in the overall design. Egyptians are widely known as strong believers and faithful citizens to their Gods and Goddesses.
Some Egyptian tattoos are for paying tribute to Gods, Goddesses, or to various Egyptian tribes. This kind of tattoo usually includes the face of the God being paid tribute to. The meaning of this tattoo leans more on the religious aspect of life. If you get this kind of tattoo, then it would automatically mean that you believe in that certain God or Goddess.
Many Egyptian tattoos serve as amulets or protection. Although there is really no concrete proof to the claims, many people still believe that when you use a certain Egyptian symbol as a tattoo, you will be spared from any harm.
Ideal Placement of Egyptian Tattoos
The placement of Egyptian tattoos depend on how big the design is, or what kind of symbol is used in the design. Decide on the placement of your tattoo before going to any tattoo shop. The reason for this is to facilitate faster and more efficient tattoo procedure. After choosing your tattoo design, the next thing you should consider is where to put that particular tattoo. If you put it on the wrong spot, then it would probably end up getting wasted.
For example, an Ankh tattoo will look great on the wrists or at the back of the neck. Since Ankh tattoos are usually small in size, it would fit the narrow space on your wrist. When you put it at the back of your neck, it will make you look sexier than ever. This is applicable to both men and women.
The Sphinx tattoo will look attractive when placed on the back or on the chest. This is because the ornate design of the Sphinx will be fully noticeable in those areas. The bigger the Sphinx is, the more attractive it becomes.
Egyptian Tattoos Preparation Tips
Before getting all excited on having your Egyptian tattoos, you need to prepare yourself. If this is your first time getting a tattoo, then you had better get a good night’s sleep a night before the scheduled appointment. This will help you stay relaxed during the entire procedure.
You shouldn’t also forget to eat before going to your tattoo artist. You will need all the energy that you can get because tattoo procedures can be a bit painful. It would also help to bring a friend you can converse with during the entire procedure. Chatting with your friend will take your mind off the pain.
Average Service Cost and Standard Prices of Egyptian Tattoos
Egyptian tattoos have ornate and intricate designs. Normally, tattoos that have complicated designs are priced more than the regular ones. For black ink Egyptian inspired tattoos, it will probably cost about $100 – $200 per tattoo. If you go to local tattoo shops near your area, then you might get your tattoo done at a lower price. If you want to have a well-known tattoo artist to do your tattoo, you may have to spend more, even for black ink tattoos.
For multi-colored and bigger sized Egyptian tattoos, you might need to spend at least $250 per tattoo design. There are even tattoo artists who charge an hourly service fee on top of that amount. The point here is that you have to choose the best and most practical tattoo shop without compromising the tattoo’s quality.
Maintenance Tips after Getting Egyptian Tattoos
There are several aftercare tips that you need to follow after getting your Egyptian tattoos. Right after getting your tattoo, the artist usually covers it with some sort of a thin bandage. It’s highly advisable to leave this bandage on for at least 3 hours. After the first 3 hours, you can take the bandage and clean the tattoo area with water and soap. You must do this gently to avoid rubbing off the ink and to avoid bleeding.
The next thing you need to do is apply ointment or anti-bacterial cream to your tattoo to aid in the healing process. You should let your tattoo breath by not covering it again with bandage.