Courageous Wolf Tattoo

Posted on January 30, 2010
Filed Under Tattoo Meanings

Courageous Wolf Tattoo A wolf tattoo is a worthy decoration of human’s body. It is for a person who is not afraid of danger and easily runs risks. It symbolizes courage and might, endurance and stamina of its wearer.

Wolfs are notable representatives of fauna. They live in packs and choose one of them as a leader who makes all important decisions, heads chase and divides prey. Wolf has more than once showed its outstanding courage, that’s why different tribes of people began to call themselves “Wolf’s sons.” Ancient people were the first to adorn their bodies with images of wolves for they believed this would bring them good luck while hunting.

So wolf is a symbol of freedom and independence, as well as fearlessness because the animal always fights till victory, or death. It also symbolizes justice as normally it won’t do any harm to the weak. Wolves can tell us what the real devotion to his or her family is. A he-wolf courts only his she-wolf, his “wife,” takes care of their children, and will never commit adultery.

In mythology of Eurasian and North American peoples the image of wolf was primarily connected with the cult of the fighting squad’s leader or the tribe’s founder. Warriors and tribe’s members were called wolves. The animal also acted as a god of war in Indo-European culture. It was Apollo’s (Greek god of war) and Mars’s (Roman god of war) sacred animal. It is no coincidence that Mars’s children Romyl and Rem, the founders of the Eternal City (Rome), were reared by the Capitol She-wolf.

In medieval times the image of wolf acquired a negative connotation. It stood already for fierceness, slyness, greed, and sometimes gluttony (though the positive connotation remained). Nevertheless, such an attitude led to the fact that by the 19th century in Europe almost all wolves were exterminated. They also became associated with criminal groupings.

Nowadays wolf tattoos are often chosen by members of the armed forces and serviceman who mark in such a way their collaboration in military actions. People, who have gone through the war together, become as close as relatives, as close as wolves in the pack. They have carried out several urgent tasks, and became thus brave and courageous warriors. And that is the main meaning of a wolf tattoo.