Anchor Tattoo Stencil

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Anchor Tattoo: Meaning and Background

There are some motifs that seem completely timeless to us. Although they do experience special weddings from time to time, they remain an integral part of the tattoo scene. The anchor tattoo is currently more popular than ever, and it is one of the oldest tattoo motifs. Find out what the meaning of the anchor tattoo and where it comes from in this article. We also have great pictures of anchor tattoos for you.

• The origin of the anchor as a tattoo

The anchor is actually a ship accessory that digs into the seabed and ensures that the boat stays in place. In this way, the anchor can save the lives of the sailors in the event of a storm, as it prevents the boat from drifting away. But it also stood for something resilient in other contexts: in antiquity for anchoring in the Christian faith, in Poland as a symbol of resistance during the German occupation. In the 19th century it had already become an important symbol for seafaring and was soon to be found on the skin of many sailors. It is said that anyone who wore an anchor as a tattoo had already crossed the Atlantic at least once.

Later it was often engraved together with other motifs that we know today as typical old-school tattoos: the swallow, the rose or the steering wheel tattoo. They mark the beginning of western tattoo art, so they are very traditional.

• The meaning of the anchor tattoo

Many people have the anchor set for fashion reasons without further questioning its meaning. As you can see, the anchor symbolizes above all strength and support; it is not called a lifeline for nothing. The anchor tattoo can still embody these meanings:

•  protection & hold

In many cases, an anchor stands for the support that one wishes for in stormy times during one's life or has perhaps already experienced. So it should protect and always offer support. It can symbolize friends or family who are always there for you when things get difficult.

• love & loyalty

The anchor tattoo can also very simply stand for love: Especially when you have found your partner for life, you want to be anchored with him forever. The anchor also means eternal loyalty, solidarity and loyalty.

•  Home & Return

Especially in seafaring, the anchor tattoo not only stood for hold, but also the connection to home and the wish to return soon to her and her beloved. With the anchor, the wearer never wants to forget his roots.

•  Longing & Adventure

For some people, the anchor represents the longing for the sea and the coast. They love the maritime style and also life at or on the sea. You want to wander into the distance, but somehow also seek adventure.

•  Hope & Optimism

Like the swallow tattoo, the anchor symbolized the sailors' hope in the times of seafaring to return to a safe harbor soon and not have to linger forever on the sea. Even today, the tattoo can give hope to its wearers.

The anchor tattoo on men and women

Nowadays the anchor tattoo is no longer a purely male motif. More and more women are getting an anchor. They like to have it tattooed behind the ear, on the wrist or as a small motif on the finger or ankle, while men like to wear it on the upper arm or chest. However, if you want to wear this symbol on your skin, too, you should make sure that it does not look too masculine, as in old-school style or blackwork. So it should have a delicate, filigree design. Dotwork or other minimalist tattoo styles are suitable for this.