Ancient Egyptians were responsible for designing magnificent architectural structures. Their civilization was also responsible for many different art forms. As a matter of fact, the first tattoo that was discovered was on a mummy, identified as an Egyptian high priestess. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians tattooed themselves for a variety of reasons, some spiritual and possibly also cosmetic as body adornment. The earliest designs were mostly abstract with dots, dashes, parallel lines and chains of elliptical circles.
The Egyptian style is very distinct and can be easily recognized. The symbols they used along with the images of their gods have been inscribed in many places. Their ancient culture has been an inspiration to a lot of tattoo fans. One of the most popular symbols is the Ankh, which is a variation of the cross. This is a very ancient symbol and is an expression of life. Rather than being straight edged as a regular modern day cross it has a looped top. This was not designed as a different take on the Christian cross symbol as the Christian cross that we know today was not yet in existence.
Another popular Egyptian symbol is the Phoenix. It is depicted as a large bird with outspread wings. It is said to rise from the ashes and is representative of overcoming hardship or of being born again. The Phoenix is also used to symbolize hope and faith. People that have gone through a hard time or a difficult period in their life will be attracted to the Phoenix as a symbol that everything will be alright.
There are many popular Egyptian symbols. Another prominent one you see quite often is the Eye of Horus. This is the symbol for Horus, the Falcon Sky God. This was a symbol that signified royal power. The ancients believed that this symbol of indestructibility would assist in rebirth, due to their beliefs about the soul. The freemasons adopted this as a symbol of power and might and it has survived to this day appearing as the Eye of Providence on the Great Seal of the United States.
The ancient Egyptian culture is full of mysteries, which is why Egyptian tattoo designs are very appealing to those who want to portray mysticism. Every Egyptian symbol has its own meaning so if one would just look closely at any of the Egyptian tattoo designs and do a little research on them, then he/she would be able to know what the symbol means. Typically, the meaning of a symbol people choose for their Egyptian tattoo design relates to their life experience. These tattoos often inflict a spiritual effect on its bearer.
