Octopuses are not so often featured in tattoos. Initially, their image was actively used by sailors, pirates and people associated with the seas and oceans. The octopus is a mysterious inhabitant of the water element, living at the very bottom. Due to his unusual structure, consisting of tentacles and a head, he is loved by eccentric personalities who pride themselves on their uniqueness.
Octopuses. What are the creatures?
Octopuses belong to the family of cephalopods. They can reach 4 meters. However, the smallest specimens are only 1-2 cm each. They live in the depths of the seas and oceans. Octopuses prefer to settle in crevices or underwater caves. Average duration The life of this type of mollusk is 3 years. The maximum age known to scientists is 5 years. By type of food, octopuses are predators. When they catch a prey, they inject poison with their beak into the body of food. The main source of food for octopuses are other mollusks, fish, and crustaceans.
A distinctive feature of octopuses is the presence of three hearts. This creature's blood blue color. The octopus tattoo, a photo of which can be found on the Internet, is distinguished by a large number of tentacles, namely eight copies. On each of the branches there are special suction cups. Octopuses are considered nocturnal animals, as during the day their activity is noticeably reduced.
Back tattoo - big octopus in waves
The history of the octopus tattoo
The image of this strange inhabitant of the seas was actively used by navigators. Previously, among sailors, it was believed that having such a tattoo means protecting your ship and crew from attacks by sea monsters and pirates. Also superstitious captains applied such images on their forearms so that their ship would not crash.
Octopus sleeve tattoo
Did you know? Octopuses are considered the most intelligent molluscs. They are trainable, can distinguish between geometric shapes and have an excellent memory. The octopus tattoo, the meaning of which is described below, gives its owner significance. This is due to the fact that this type of molluscs can program their brain activity for a specific task.
Octopus on the stomach of a girl in the form of a tattoo
The meaning of the octopus tattoo
The meaning of this tattoo can vary from positive to negative.. It depends directly on the depicted octopus. If the tattoo is a mollusk that grabbed the victim, or similar to a sea monster, then the meaning will be associated with aggression, with cruelty. Such images are preferred by people who do not want to adapt to generally accepted norms and rules. Also, such an image emphasizes a tendency to sadism and intimidation of other people.
Large octopus tattoo all over the guy's back
There are much more positive values of an octopus tattoo, the sketches of which are quite kind and soft:
- hope for immortality. As you know, the octopus has three hearts and an increased ability to regenerate. From this follows the first meaning. Such an image is applied by people who seek to extend their lives, or emphasize that they are immortal;
- the twisted tentacles of the octopus symbolize the cycle of time. Such a tattoo is stuffed by people who want to return to the past, or emphasize their attitude to the flow of life;
- a tattoo with the image of this unusual mollusk can also indicate the ability of the owner to change his mind. As you know, the octopus is a kind of chameleon. It changes its color depending on the mood or environment. So the person who decided on such a drawing can be both kind and cruel. His decision and behavior may change depending on the circumstances.
Colored octopus tattoo
Place of tattoo
This type of tattoo looks good on a large area. Therefore, the preferred places for drawing an image of an octopus are:
- forearm. In this case, the octopus is depicted vertically. The image looks spectacular, in which the mollusk covers its hand with its tentacles;
- back . In this case, the tattoo can occupy both the entire back area and part of it. The image is expanded and detailed;
- breast . There are sketches that will look good on both male and female breasts. The octopus can be depicted both alone and with its prey. A drawing in which an octopus entangles a woman's breasts with its tentacles is considered piquant.
I made a tattoo with an octopus spontaneously. I wanted something with a nautical theme. But I didn’t want to make banal fish and starfish. A sketch of a tattoo with a small octopus caught my eye. Attracted immediately with its originality. My tattoo is in color, located on the forearm. The tentacles of the octopus smoothly turn into an ornament. The tattoo is complex but effective.
Sofia, Kirov.
Octopus with leg decorations
Octopus in mythology and culture
The octopus has long been mistakenly considered a very dangerous creature. There is an opinion that his appearance led Victor Hugo in one of his novels to equate this mollusk with universal evil. Also, the name "octopus" is used to designate criminal organizations engaged in sabotage. Confirmation of this is the series "Octopus".
It is interesting. The famous god reflected in the octopus is the star of the Internet. It's about Cthulhu. This deity has a specific appearance. It is believed that Cthulhu is able to penetrate the human mind, inspire their thoughts. This is due to the fact that the head of an octopus is much larger than its tentacles.
Octopus tattoo on a guy's shoulder
Octopuses were rehabilitated after the invention of scuba gear. When scientists were able to find out marine life closer, they recognized that octopuses are not so dangerous and scary creatures for humans. At the same time, Jacques Yves Cousteau described their life, completely refuting all the rumors about octopuses.
I have always liked octopuses. They are quite unusual, which suits me 100%. Tattoo small, black and white
Octopus tattoo - one of the original images, is not very common, refers to marine tattoos. This is a universal tattoo that has no limit in size, color and shape. It is applied not only by sailors, but also by people who have nothing to do with the sea. Octopuses belong to a detachment of marine animals with a head, sac-like body, eight tentacles, living at great depths. Centuries-old mysterious legends and myths are transmitted about them, causing both fear and admiration. These are intelligent aquatic creatures with a good memory, able to remember various situations and stimuli. They program their brain memory mechanisms to perform a specific task, having certain abilities and intelligence for this.
Symbol history
For more than one thousand years, there have been beliefs that the drawings of certain animals can serve as protective amulet from the influence of evil spirits and unkind eyes. According to them, the octopuses had such a function, which released a jet of ink protection, allowing them to avoid the attack of the enemy.
Historically, the image was used by early navigators. They believed that it would give protection to the ship and sailors from the attacks of pirates and sea monsters. Their captains put a symbol on the shoulder to protect the ship from crashing in the watery abyss. The English navigator-traveler James Cook, who made a trip to the islands of Polynesia, brought to Europe sketches of various tattoos, including an octopus tattoo.
Many peoples living on the sea coasts treated the octopus as an ocean deity, thinking that it is he who creates waves in the ocean and destroys ships. It was believed that he was the god Cthulhu, the lord of all worlds, sleeping at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
The meaning of the octopus tattoo
Options for the interpretation of the symbol can be from positive to negative, with mythical and mystical elements. The octopus has 8 tentacles, and this figure indicates infinity and eternity, therefore it is interpreted as the sacredness of the symbol.
This sea creature has a special arrangement of tentacles - they grow back after their loss, so a tattoo with octopus tentacles indicates the continuation of human life even after the most difficult crises, the ability to recover from a period of decline. Since the animal has a sufficient level of mind, for the owner of the sign this means the presence of good abilities, intelligence.
A female is able to lay up to 150 thousand eggs in her life, which for the fair half symbolizes the opportunity to have heirs, as well as write the names of children on symbolic tentacles. The animal, depending on the circumstances, is able to change its color, so the image is interpreted as changes and inconstancy. The octopus is an independent and independent creature, so a person wearing this pattern can be closed, secretive, independent.
The modern interpretation of symbolism is cyclicality, eternity, longevity, giving acceleration to the rhythm of life, accelerated progress. People with such a pattern are respected, they are interesting personalities with wisdom, power, knowledge, hardworking, cleanliness, although they can be hypocritical.
Position, colors, additional elements
Octopus tattoos are chosen by boys and girls due to the uniqueness of the design, the lack of restrictions in its size and the choice of color, so it is impossible to see two identical works. Most often, the tattoo is placed on the back, with tentacles on the entire back. The pattern on the arm looks very nice - shoulder, forearm, inside hands, wrist. Tentacles pointing upwards symbolize moving forward after suffering trials, healing the situation.
The tattoo can be supplemented with other symbols - for example, a sinking ship, which indicates the dangerous nature of a person. Girls complement the symbol with flowers and other decorative details. A girl with an octopus tattoo on her pope looks very bright. Glasses and a hat indicate intelligence and wisdom. Since the symbol has a variety of meanings, each one is able to add its own meaning and its own association.
The image can be made in monochrome image and color variety. Any style is suitable for applying a tattoo with an octopus, it will remain recognizable in any case.
Conclusion
So, we tried to answer the question in as much detail as possible: “What does an octopus tattoo mean?”. It is generally accepted that a tattoo can have some definite influence on the fate of a person. The drawing should complement the existing positive characteristics of a person, in which case he will receive additional positive changes, and the shortcomings will weaken their influence on him.
Octopus - one of the most mysterious and mysterious inhabitants sea depths. This creature is associated with many ancient myths and legends. different peoples he evoked horror and admiration. Oddly enough, the octopus tattoo is quite rare. The sketch of the octopus tattoo looks good on a large scale, it can be applied on the thigh, shoulder, chest, back, etc.
Among many peoples living on the coast, the octopus is revered as a powerful deity - the patron of the sea. In ancient times, it was believed that it was he who creates whirlpools and destroys ships in the open ocean.
The octopus god Cthulhu, inspiring people with fear and reverence for him, was revered as the personification of wisdom and power. The octopus became a symbol of wisdom due to the huge size of the brain, which is not characteristic of invertebrates, and its intelligence is considered no less than that of a cat.
Some cultures identified the octopus with demons and afterlife, which is not surprising, given the fear and horror his formidable appearance caused.
The meaning of the octopus tattoo modern world- wisdom, eternity, immortality, hypocrisy.
The octopus is associated with longevity and immortality, as this amazing animal has 3 hearts. The ability of the octopus to secrete ink to hide from the enemy, as well as the ability to change the color of the body, adjusting to the color environment, made him a symbol of hypocrisy and inconstancy.
The octopus was traditionally depicted on the amulets and tattoos of sailors as a protection against evil thoughts, the evil eye and death.
Curved octopus tentacles are perceived as a symbol of cyclicity, transformation and change, a means of moving forward and accelerating the rhythm of life.
The inhabitants of Crete considered the octopus a symbol of the beginning of creation and the mystical center of the universe. An octopus tattoo is interesting in that each person can give it their own meaning by depicting an octopus either scary and ruthless, or kind and calm.
The octopus tattoo gives a huge opportunity for design ideas. For example, you can prick a large octopus with tentacles descending over the shoulders. You can place an octopus tattoo on the entire back or show that it is holding some object in its tentacles. Some, except for the octopus itself, stuff turtles or fish next to it. An octopus tattoo made in a bright “cartoon” style looks very interesting and unusual.
Usually octopus tattoos are applied to the shoulders, back, chest, arms or sides. An octopus tattoo is suitable for courageous, intelligent people, with a strong character and unbending willpower. Whatever sketch is chosen, the owner of such an original tattoo will not go unnoticed.
Videos octopus tattoo
And remember: whatever the sketch of the octopus tattoo is, the main thing is that it be unique! And below are photos of tattoos with the image of an octopus from different masters.
Of course, one of the most original images for the body is an octopus tattoo. The octopus is not a commonly chosen design, however, this does not diminish the significance and appeal of such a tattoo. Octopus tattoo is universal, which allows you to choose any image size, color and shape, as well as successfully combine two images together. Despite this, the owners of such a tattoo assure that it looks best in big size. Octopus in different cultures carries its own meaning, so today the octopus tattoo has a lot of different meanings. Most often you can see colored octopuses, in particular blue and orange, but the creatures made in black ink are not inferior in beauty and epic to their multi-colored copies.
Octopus tattoo
The meaning of the octopus tattoo
In general, the first mention of this creature falls on ancient mythology, which refers to the terrible monster Kraken - a giant octopus that sinks ships and other vessels. Therefore, very often the owners of an octopus tattoo put a mythical and mystical meaning into it.
In addition, everyone knows unique properties this creature to regenerate its limbs. If an octopus loses one or even several tentacles in battle, over time they grow back. The image of an octopus on the body can symbolize a person’s desire to continue his life path even after the most severe shocks.
Another mystical meaning of the octopus tattoo is the number of its tentacles, namely 8. This figure has always seemed special, as it resembles the sign of infinity. Therefore, in many cultures, this creature is considered sacred.
For thousands of years, people have believed that some living beings are a kind of amulet that helps repel evil spirits and protect against the evil eye. These creatures include the octopus, which shoots ink at its opponent.
The octopus is one of the most intelligent inhabitants of the sea. He is able to use his brain to calculate an attack and its consequences. Scientists have proven that these creatures have different reactions to different stimuli and situations. Therefore, an octopus tattoo can also mean "mind", "mind", "abilities".
It will also be interesting to know that a female can lay up to 150 thousand eggs in her life, which represents fertility and motherhood. This value is often invested in their tattoo by the fair sex, who have many children. An original idea would be to write the names of your children on the limbs.
Since the octopus can change its color several times a day, depending on the situation, very often its image speaks of change or inconstancy.
These creatures are quite independent, do not like to depend on their own kind. The facts are known that octopuses even eat each other. Therefore, they are often associated with isolation and secrecy.
Let's summarize all the meanings of an octopus tattoo. So, an octopus tattoo can symbolize:
- Fixture;
- Stealth;
- Closure;
- Mystic;
- Recovery;
- Changes;
- inconstancy;
- Fertility;
- adaptation;
- Manifold;
- protection;
- Independence.
Octopus Tattoo Ideas
Octopus tattoo is suitable for both guys and girls. This image is chosen for two main reasons, firstly, this is the meaning of the picture, and secondly, this is a unique design. Thanks to "his appearance”, the octopus can be depicted in any size and color on any part of the body. Your possibilities are so limitless that you will hardly ever see two identical tattoos with this creature.
One of the most common octopus tattoo designs is the image of the creature itself with its tentacles stretched across its entire back.
on the backThe octopus on the hand looks absolutely incomparable. The specific part doesn't matter here. It can be either the shoulder, forearm, the inside of the arm, or the wrist. The color of the tattoo depends only on your own preferences.
If you put the meaning of “healing” and “moving forward after trials” into your tattoo, then it is most logical to choose an image of an octopus looking up.
Very often you can see a combination of two elements at once, the octopus itself and the ship that it sinks. This may indicate the dangerous nature of a person.
The female version of the octopus tattoo can also be decorated with flowers or other decorative elements. Moreover, it is not necessary to clearly draw them side by side, your ornaments can be enclosed in the “body” of the creature.
Emphasize wisdom and mind will help such additional artistic means like glasses and a hat. It is unlikely that you will think of something else, looking at such a design.
Whatever type of tattoo you choose, the main thing is its meaning. The octopus tattoo has a fairly broad meaning, but this does not exclude the possibility that you yourself can put your own association into this image.
Today, the octopus tattoo is becoming more and more popular in society. There is nothing strange in this, because any animals, birds and plants regularly become the heroes of "skin painting". And this cephalopod has a rich history of development in the world of tattoos.
In the 21st century, the marine theme acquires new life. Old school with sharks and anchors is back in fashion. So the place was found for the eight-armed.
Before you go to the tattoo parlor, you should decide where is the best place to get a tattoo.
There are several accommodation options:
- Above the shoulder blade;
- breast;
- forearm;
- ankle;
- wrist
- back.
Photo of placement of tattoos with octopuses
Above the shoulder blade
On the chest
Forearm
Ankle
On the wrist
On the back
However, do not forget that areas with thin skin located close to the bone will be the most painful. Therefore, you will have to use local anesthesia.
Another option is the thigh, or buttock. Plus - a large amount of soft tissue, allowing the procedure to be painless. In addition, the skin surface area is large, and you can create not miniatures, but full-fledged drawings.
If in the criminal world the location of the tattoo still had some meaning, then in secular society it has long been blurred. Each person decides which image and where to place. Therefore, an octopus tattoo on the pope will not surprise or embarrass anyone.
In particular, a girl with an octopus tattoo on her bum will look bold and sexy. At the same time, the image on her body does not look defiant at all.
Modern female tattoos are often banal. These are stars, hearts, butterflies and ladybugs. How different the octopus version is from them will depend on the style of performance. Believe me, anything can be made banal. However, as well as vice versa.
It is not uncommon to see very large octopus tattoos. They can take up the entire back, moving to the neck and / or buttocks, depending on how the clam's tentacles are placed on the sketch. Another option is to switch from the shoulder blade to the shoulder and arm.
Symbolism of the octopus tattoo
If you look for the original meaning of the octopus tattoo, then you will most likely come across information that this creature has some connection with otherworldly forces, the afterlife. It is often associated with the symbols of the spiral and the swastika.
- Octopuses are known to be excellent masters of camouflage and stealth. The mollusk lying on the seabed is invisible even up close. It was believed that it helps to endow tattoo owners with similar properties.
- The octopus has three hearts. For this, he was endowed with magical powers, and was considered a symbol of immortality.
- In our time, it is believed that this creature symbolizes time and cycles. The concept of eternity, infinity, the change of lunar phases is identified with it.
- The octopus has a very large brain, and the level of intelligence is not inferior to our pets. Therefore, often a tattoo means wisdom and the ability to comprehend "secrets shrouded in darkness."
- Often such a symbol was applied to protect against the evil eye and damage.
- The Cretan civilization identified the eight-armed clam with the center of our universe and the very starting point from which it originated.
Octopus tattoo with randomly spread tentacles The following interpretation is very often used: the octopus symbolizes a constant cycle of changes that is characteristic of our objective reality. This is a symbol for people striving for constant movement and development. It is believed that even the position of the tentacles in the figure matters. With them, about the same story as with solar symbols, like the swastika. Curved clockwise, they contribute to the development, and counterclockwise - the inhibition of certain processes. If the positions of the limbs of the octopus are chaotic, then no sacred meaning they don't carry.
However, each person can decide for himself what the chosen picture will mean for him personally. After all, the symbolism of the past is perceived differently today. People have long ceased to be afraid of monsters from the depths, making them the characters of popular horror films. And not everyone in our time believes in mysticism, like Cthulhu sleeping at the bottom of the sea.
Octopus tattoo in antiquity and modernity
In the Middle Ages, there was far from one meaning of an octopus tattoo. People considered him the patron saint of the deep sea and were naturally afraid. In those days, they believed in the Kraken and other monsters. However, the discovery by scientists of the existence of giant octopuses and squids at a depth suggests that our ancestors were not afraid in vain.
The giant octopus known to science as Enteroctopus dofleini can reach nine meters. Not surprisingly, sailors and fishermen were in awe of him, and tattooed, in the hope that the monster would spare them.
The tradition of making tattoos with a terrible creature to protect against it, or to show the courage of the owner, has existed for a long time. Also, this cephalopod often became a symbol of various secret and occult societies. In our time, this is reflected even in the world of comics and cinema. In Marvel, the octopus tentacles and skull are symbols of the secret terrorist organization Hydra.
Octopus tentacle tattoo and the skull of the secret terrorist organization "Hydra" The new generation would have long forgotten about all these legends, if not for the main propagandist of horror in the literature of the recent past - Lovecraft. How many orders he created for tattoo artists, without knowing it. It was he who wrote the work "The Call of Cthulhu" and a number of other works that tell about the Ancients. Among the mythical monsters described by the author, an important place is occupied by a monster with the head and tentacles of an octopus - the same Cthulhu that became the hero of memes.
Sea and pirate theme
It is no secret that the modern tattoo in the form that we know came to us from sailors. They, in turn, borrowed it from various peoples with whom they traded and contacted. Ordinary sailors and their worst enemies Pirates have made the tattoo a part of world culture. Among the most common motifs in modern times, you can see:
- treasure octopus is a direct reference to the times of Jack Rackham and Edward Teach. Very often in the legends of pirates it was said that giant octopuses guard chests of gold at the bottom, much like mighty dragons do on land. How true this is is hard to say. But what if many-legged predators have a passion for everything shiny, like magpies?
- octopus with a compass is a marine symbol. It's hard to say when he first appeared. But such tattoos were still in the 17th century among European sailors. The masters of the seas know the way very well. The sailors believed that this sign would protect them from trouble. After all, getting lost in the middle of the ocean is not an adventure, but a sure chance of never returning to your home port.
- octopus with fish is another symbol that came from pirates and privateers. The values are different. Sometimes they even depend on the breed of fish. For example, carp meant courage, and shark meant strength and power.
- an octopus braiding a ship;
- octopus with a bottle of rum.
Various inscriptions in English, Spanish, Italian and Latin are also additionally used.
Choose the style and design of the octopus tattoo
Having decided to make an octopus tattoo, decide on the style. To do this, study the existing options in the catalog and on the Internet. Now there are much more of them than were offered in those days when pirate ships plied the seas.
Do not forget that any professional tattoo artist is, first of all, an experienced artist. Therefore, the client can order him sketches of an octopus tattoo in order to get a unique result that no one else will have.
Style options can be any:
- realism for lovers of correct anatomy and detail;
- octopus tattoo in watercolor style - originality and bright colors;
- trash polka is a style that is gaining popularity again. It is great for animalistic drawings;
- minimalism;
- linework;
- biomechanics - tentacles, combined with various details, will look very impressive and impressive;
- Old school - for fans of the old marine tattoo. If you want a real pirate tattoo, this is exactly the old style.
Colored or black and white? The choice depends on how much you like bright tattoos. In addition, each additional paint costs money, increasing the final cost of the job. A beautiful colored octopus tattoo looks very impressive and attracts the attention of others. Especially if it's summer outside. On the beach, you will become the object of everyone's interest.
What should be the nature of the drawing? Someone prefers to draw an octopus as a ruthless and bloodthirsty monster, sinking ships and devouring helpless sailors. Others make him sweet, kind and carefree.
How accurate and realistic should such a drawing be? Now there are a lot of popular techniques that use primitivism. It doesn't matter to the master exactly how to do it. In fact, the difference is only in the cost of time, material and the number of visits. The most detailed and complex pictures are created in three or more sessions. This allows you to achieve a certain balance in terms of time, pain and financial costs. Of course, walking around with a half-finished image is not always pleasant, but where to go if there are no other options?
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