Phoenix Tattoo Designs

Like dragons, the phoenix myth is present in nearly every ancient civilization and part of a country legend. While its illustration and mythology differs from one culture to another, two things remain the same about it: it symbolizes rebirth and immortality. To date, there is no agreement yet among scholars on the etymology of its name. Some articles say that phoenix comes from the Greek word for "red," the color of fire. Others say that it means "palm tree" in Greek.

Ancient Greeks believed that the bird came originally from Ethiopia. For ancient Egyptians, however, it was the first animal to rise out of the primeval emergence of the first living creatures, and was worshipped like a sun god. It died in flames at the end of the day, only to rise when dawn breaks. They said that it appeared only once every 500 years.

The Lebanese treat the phoenix as a core figure of their culture. As descendants of the ancient Phoenician civilization, they call themselves the "Sons of the Phoenix." This conviction is supported by the history of its capital, Beirut, which has been destroyed and rebuilt for seven times. In Persia, it is known as Huma or the bird of paradise.

In ancient China, on the other hand, the feng-huang bird, its equivalent, united yin and yang and was used to represent marriage. Arabians viewed the phoenix as a magically powerful red bird that endured for millenniums, eventually dying in a pile of burning ashes, only to be resurrected once more. In the ancient Roman Empire, the image of the phoenix was marked on coins, symbolizing the ceaseless endurance of the empire. Jewish lore describes it as the only creature that was not banned from paradise, unlike Adam and Eve, because it abstained from eating the forbidden fruit. Because of its never-ending cycle of death and rebirth, it has been likened to Christ's death and resurrection by some Christians.

The Egyptian phoenix is known as the Bennu bird, which was usually illustrated as a heron. Interestingly enough, archaeological explorations have led to the discovery of the remains of a much, much larger heron in the Persian Gulf that dates back 5,000 years ago.Perhaps ancient Egyptians saw this bird once in while and associated it with the sun god, Ra.

The Bennu was also deemed a manifestation of the resurrected god Osiris. Its cry during the creation of the world was also believed to mark the beginning of time.

The phoenix, known as the Feng Huang bird, is the exclusive royal symbol of the empress of China. As her insignia, the phoenix is usually illustrated with a dragon, the royal symbol of the emperor.

A classic depiction of the Feng Huang is a bird with the swallow's face, the neck of a snake, a stag's hindquarters, and a fish's tail. References and images of the Feng Huang have adorned Chinese art and literature for more than 7,000 years. The colors of its tail feathers stood for the Confucian virtues of loyalty, honesty, decorum, and justice.

The male phoenix is called Ho, while the female is named Oo. The Japanese phoenix has a striking resemblance with the Chinese Feng Huang. It has also been made the symbol of the Japanese royal empress.

The Ho-Oo represents the sun, justice, fidelity, and obedience. Its appearance was believed to hail a new era.

Among the many different phoenix sagas, the story and characteristics of the Arabian phoenix is the most well known and widely adapted to modern fiction today.

The Arabian phoenix is thought to be as large as an eagle, with scarlet and gold plumage. According to Arabian myth, only one phoenix exists at a certain time period, usually stretching to a life span of 500 years. When it nears death, it builds a pyre nest and sets it on fire. A young phoenix arises from the ashes from the midst of the flames. It then gathers the ashes of its predecessor and takes it to Heliopolis, the city of the sun.

Adaptations of the phoenix mythology can be seen everywhere in modern-day fiction. In the Marvel comic series "The X-Men," a powerful telekinetic named Jean Grey makes best use of her superpowers through her alter ego, called The Phoenix. In the widely popular Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, a phoenix named Fawkes was depicted as a powerfully magical bird with the ability to heal wounds with its tears and to resurrect from its death.Both these characters are known worldwide, and are just examples of how phoenix lore still inspires contemporary writers and seeps into the most beloved stories of today.

Phoenix tattoos are very popular and rate as some of the most visually fascinating tattoo designs today. Traditional versions are common and available everywhere, but this does not in any way diminish the beauty of its classic depiction of gold and red flames. If you wish something different, the phoenix has also been adapted in tribal and Celtic motifs. Phoenix tribal tattoos are gaining more attention among tattoo buffs, delightfully unique with its use of bold, black and jagged lines. Many more artists are coming up with their own designs.

Like most tattoo designs, the phoenix has no fixed template. So you could do practically anything you want. So discuss what you have in mind with your tattoo artist and maybe draw a sketch of the basic things you want done. Many phoenix tattoo designs are also available online; they can give you inspiration and something to start on when coming up with your own design.