Tribal Lion Tattoo Designs and Meaning

Posted on January 2, 2010
Filed Under Tattoo Designs, Tattoo Meanings

Tribal Lion Tattoo Designs and Meaning Tribal tattoos in the variety of their patterns have become extremely popular in recent years. They look very modern and intricate though – just imagine! - they go back to 3000 year B.C. or even more, being thus the first tattoo design in human history.

Tribal tattoos look like an angular ornament colored in black, as a rule. Within a primitive communal societies they fulfilled a distinguishing function. Our ancestors used to mark members of their tribes in a peculiar way, different from other tribes. Tribals became the basis of more elaborate tattoo designs, for instance of tribal-styled animal tattoos, with tribal lion tattoo being one of them.

A tribal lion tattoo should be called “neo-tribal,” to be more precise. It doesn’t have such deep meaning as tribal tattoos are ascribed to have. But it is beautiful and really strikes with awe. Its symbolism is connected to that of a usual lion tattoo, and the latter has a wide meaning. So you can find such shade of meaning that is suited for you the best.

The lion as an animal stands for various human qualities such as strength, courage, firmness and vigor. It is King of Animals, and thus in human society it symbolizes power, dominance and royalty. It also stands for Law and military power.

Lion tattoos can be found in many ancient cultures. In mythologies of peoples from Africa, Southern and Eastern Asia it means supreme divine power and grandeur, sun and fire and also can be perceived as a ghost of a dead ancestor, being a totem. Peculiar meaning has an image of Lioness – it is a symbol of maternity as well as an embodiment of voluptuousness. In Buddhism Lion is a courageous, noble and persistent animal. It brings good luck and happiness.

The usual tribal style of a lion tattoo is its head drawn in black with the help of ornate lines with the peaks and curves typical of a tribal style.