Raven neck tattoo. Raven tattoo: the meaning and meaning of the bird in the history of the world, photo. Video: different crow tattoos

Among the sketches of tattoos, most depict animals, birds, insects and other creatures. Such drawings are used to emphasize the quality of character that a person possesses, or to add missing confidence and strength. The image of a raven is shrouded in special mystery. What should you know about such a tattoo?

Three crow tattoo

Raven - a symbol of good or evil

Raven tattoo is quite common among tattoo art lovers. Of particular interest is connected with ancient beliefs. Our ancestors associated the raven with dark forces. The drawings are in black and white. Other colors are very rarely added to the sketch. A popular area for applying such a pattern are shoulders, chest, back.

A raven is a bird that is distinguished by its strength and rather large size. characteristic feature is the mind and wisdom of the bird. Representatives of all cultures and at all times revered this bird, experienced a sense of fear, and sometimes remained impassive. Despite this, the bird has always evoked radically opposite emotions. It is a symbol of darkness and the sun, good and evil, enmity and wisdom. Many owners of this tattoo associate a raven with a reliable advisor.

Raven, clock, tree, moon

Raven in the cultures of the world

The crow tattoo, the meaning of which is diverse and contradictory, is represented in the cultures of almost all peoples of the world.

The legend says that the raven is a bird that lives for about 300 years, terrifies people and feeds on carrion. This representative of birds occupied a worthy place in the cultures of all peoples of the world.

The ancient Celts associated the raven with death. The jet-black bird was part of magical and satanic rites. She was always placed near the goddess Morgan and other deities who symbolized death and enmity.

ancient egyptians they believed that the raven denotes aggression and evil, therefore the birds were afraid and avoided its image.

IN Christian religion raven is considered an accomplice of the devil, as well as a harbinger of problems and bad weather. But the main book of Christians - the Bible testifies that the prophet Elijah was saved in the desert by a flock of crows. The birds saved the hermit from certain death.

This is interesting!

In Russian folklore, for example, in fairy tales, the black bird also acts as a supporter of evil, witches and evil sorcerers. It is an essential symbol of black magic.

The opposite meaning was attributed to the raven by the ancient Romans. For them, the bird embodied hope. Such associations were caused by the fact that the crow's cry is similar to the Latin word "kras" (tomorrow).

IN Chinese mythology and religions of ravens are the embodiment of such qualities as determination, reliability and steadfastness. According to legend, the sun sets the raven in motion.

The peoples of hot Africa identify the bird with the faithful helper of man.

The Eskimos believed that it was the raven that was the main shaman, the progenitor of mankind.

Raven's public key, arm tattoo

Tattoo Meaning

Crow tattoo sketches are performed in combination with other additional elements, which, in turn, make the meaning of the tattoo deeper, give a special meaning.

Wearable drawings with the image magical bird most often associated with wisdom and prudence. Also, such a pattern is applied to the body by people who experience loneliness and the pain of losing a loved one.

Important!

Since the meaning of a raven as a tattoo is quite controversial, only the person who will wear the tattoo can choose a sketch, taking into account personal preferences and feelings, as well as the attitude towards the bird.

Crow tattoo photo, depicting a crow together with, conveys the threat of death, destruction. If the skull is replaced with blooming rosesin which the bird nests, such a tattoo will become a symbol of family well-being and happiness.

Crow tattoo with abstract inserts in the form of red lines

It seems to me that the raven is a really cool tattoo. After all, this bird is quite popular among all nations. After all, they have some truth in them. I believe that the raven is a mysterious and extraordinary bird. Therefore, when choosing a tattoo for myself, at first I was afraid to look ridiculous, but everything turned out perfectly. Tattoo gave me strength and power, which was so lacking at times.

Alla, Kazan

One bird on a branch reflects loneliness, several birds or a flock of crows is an emblem of aggression and war.

If a bird holds something in its beak, the owner of the tattoo seeks to demonstrate the strength and qualities of a predator. Such a person will never become a victim of others.

Raven tattoo that flies over skulls

Tattoo color

The value of a tattoo depends not only on the elements of the composition of the picture, but also on the color scheme. The most common black and white version of the sketch. The color of the bird's feathers changes the symbolism of the tattoo. Black as pitch, a raven is perceived as a concentration of negativity and negative energy. Even the smallest elements of white color in the plumage radically change the meaning of the tattoo in a positive direction.

Christmas tree and firs in the reflection of a raven

Who gets raven tattoos?

Important!

When choosing a tattoo with a raven, you should consider in detail the combination of all the elements. Don't miss a single detail. Every little thing can drastically change the interpretation of a tattoo.

The tattoo has a unique design, so it can be done in any style of the client's choice. Both men and women can apply such a pattern to the body. If the sketch of the tattoo is chosen correctly, taking into account personal preferences and character, the tattoo will become a spectacular personality accent. A crow tattoo can be inked on almost any part of the body.

Clear head of a raven, with an open beak

Although I am not thrilled with the "singing" of this bird, I have spent a lot of time studying the symbolism. To be honest, I like the image itself, but the live bird has always made me sad. There were some concerns about this. But everything went perfectly. In difficult situations, there is a certain resilience and self-confidence. In addition, everyone admires my tattoo now. Thanks master.

Cyril, Eagle

Video: different crow tattoos

Raven tattoo sketches

Raven tattoo on the shoulder

Sinister and gloomy, the raven is always associated with death, evil and otherworldly forces, and the tattoo evokes analogies with Satanism, which, in truth, does not prevent it from being one of the most popular motifs in tattoo art.

The symbolism of the raven somehow changes with the era. So, in the culture of Ancient Greece, he is also a prophetic bird, a servant of the gods, a guide to the kingdom of eternity; in ancient Rome, it is a symbol of hope, since a loud croak is similar to the Latin word “kras”, which means “tomorrow” in translation. It is also believed that the raven brings war and death due to its feeding on carrion and association with the Irish goddess of war Morrigan, as well as beliefs where they fly to battles and peck out the eyes of fallen warriors.

According to Scandinavian legends, Odin has two crow companions, who are the personification of thought and memory. During the day, they collect information drop by drop from all over the world, and in the evening they sit on the shoulders of the owner, talking about everything.

Interpretation of a raven tattoo in the 21st century

The meaning of a raven tattoo does not change in any way depending on who wears it - a man or a woman, and is individual - it depends on other elements of the sketch, as well as what you think. If it is definitely decided that the raven will become the central one, we advise you to carefully read all the options for the compositions in order to avoid ambiguity or misinterpretation.

The tattoo is depicted in mystical roles, his companions in the drawing are:

Celtic signs
flowers
landscapes
animals (for example, wolves).

The semantic spectrum is very extensive, from death and the path to the afterlife to intelligence and witchcraft, as well as longevity.

The basis for this interpretation is life cycle a crow striving for three hundred years; it is especially interesting that wisdom is also associated with a long lifespan, although the main message for such an interpretation was the same Scandinavian mythology - the all-seeing Hugin and Munin.

Also, such a tattoo may indicate a person who lives alone, closed in on himself or simply a self-sufficient introvert, and if generalized, such a designation can be described as a hermit.

What tattoos are combined with?

Raven is a versatile image that easily connects with others, which can serve as an interesting addition to the overall composition. In the type under consideration, the bird itself will become the leader, and most often you will see it on:

surrounded by roses
with feathers
runic pattern in a circle
with clock

which symbolizes time and transience, and the bird as a guide and long-lived antagonist.

For such tattoos, the style is attractive, which, with a combination of bright scarlet and all gradations of black, with artificially careless strokes, from which it breathes the spirit of rebellion and revolution, has gained many fans, of all genders and ages.

Positive and negative values

As already mentioned above, a tattoo wears only what the author put into it. However, some drawings, even in isolation from the original idea, are obtained with bright, clearly expressed symbolism, intuitively understandable to everyone, and varying from benevolent to sharply negative.

So, for example, a raven and a skull denote devastation and chaos, and there is no difference in the position in which both “heroes” of the tattoo are.
A flock - undisguised aggression, and sitting lonely on a branch - loneliness; and here the deep foundation is that, despite their long life, these birds do not always find a mate.
A raven making a nest, holding roses in its claws will have a diametrically opposite meaning - this is a clear desire for happiness, family and stability.

The main part is the color that can radically change the tattoo. Little life hack: if you are visually attracted to the concept, but do not like the gloomy meaning that it conveys - add white to the plumage or completely color the crow in a snowy color, this will let the light content dominate.

Who wears a raven tattoo?

This tattoo is universal, it is suitable for both men and girls. As usual, a woman's habitat is a crow, like a witch's adviser, and a young man has a chest or back, where a raven effectively settles down, spreading its wings in imitation of flight.

Where is it most often applied?

Peculiar favorites for stuffing a crow tattoo:

shoulder
back
breast.

A little less common is a raven on the forearm, as well as a tattoo on the lower back, and rarely - hands, wrists. The determining criterion for choosing a place is a sketch, since it is not possible to place a drawing everywhere without changing the size, while preserving the idea to the smallest detail.

The meaning of the raven tattoo in prison

In the zone, an unambiguous meaning is put into this tattoo. It simply deciphers:
"The RAVEN is a thief - he is born of one hatred" and an allusion with cunning and deceit, which is in fact a direct characteristic of thieves.

Recommended reading: Valkyrie tattoo

Adherents of traditional Scandinavian beliefs

Hugin and Munin often become the heroes of Odin's original crow tattoos. These birds symbolize memory and thought. Some researchers believe that these are not real birds, but the personification of certain psychic powers that the supreme god of the Nordic peoples possessed.

Odin's Crow Tattoo Hugin and Munin

According to legend, these are such living drones - scouts that collect information about the world of people - Midgard, and transmit it to Odin. It is believed that he made the ravens talking so that they could tell him about the most important events.

Often, Odin's ravens tattoos are part of a composition with references to mythology and beliefs of adherents of the old tradition. They can be drawn floating, or sitting on the shoulders of their master.

In the photo there is a tattoo with crows and a crow rune in the center of the back

The banner of a raven is also often used in tattoo plots. It was used by the Vikings on their ships and on foot. For example, King of Norway Harald the Severe and Canute the Great, a Dane who became King of England, fought under him.

Raven and death

Crows are always circling over the battlefield. They are the retinue of Death itself, following it everywhere. Where the bony woman waves her scythe, there are feathered black creatures right there. They are able to eat the body of a fallen warrior to the bone. A plot in which a raven pecks at a skull has become popular for a long time.

This image has become an important part of the image of the war, as a kind of mystical idea, in which it is the action of the Gods, and people in it are only tools.

Gothic subculture / rock culture

Subcultural currents often exploit images of animals and birds. Raven feather and raven tattoos on the skull, grave cross, tombstone have become popular. Lots of styling options. You just need to choose among them the one that suits the design. Or order the creation of a drawing.

By the way, raven wings tattoos have become the same rock symbol as an eagle, a wolf, or Harley motorcycles. They are drawn either on the back in the area of the shoulder blades, under them, just below the neck, or on the shoulder. In the first case, a background can be drawn that occupies a large area of the skin. When a raven is drawn on a skull, a fragment of a field strewn with spears and arrows can also be depicted.

Often a bird can hold something in its paws, up to a chain with some kind of pendant, a key, and other items. Each person puts a certain meaning into this idea, choosing one or another picture.

Occultism

Often, Gothic smoothly flows into esotericism, so the overall style can be preserved.

By the way, a crow tattoo on the shoulder is often done by girls, followers of such a trend as Wiccan magic (natural witchcraft).

The crow tattoo in the "dark" mystical currents is considered separately. There is a well-known theory that many sorcerers and witches keep a tame raven at home. He can spy for the owner, help communicate with other worlds, and perform other important functions. Some see the bird as the guide of souls. It is also believed that this is a kind of spirit, guardian. Cults use blood, raven feathers, and tattoos are used for a special spiritual connection with the bird.

never more!

Fans of Edgar Allan Poe are well aware of the poem "The Raven", published in 1845. It is difficult to name a more atmospheric work in poetic form. It tells how a young man who has lost his bride turns to the wise bird with questions, and receives the same answer Nevermore! Often people order sketches of a crow tattoo with this word. Looks really nice and stylish. Perhaps this is the least banal of the popular solutions that use the image of a bird of prey.

Fans of the movie "The Crow" with Brandon Lee and numerous sequels

Often, a crow tattoo on the arm can be seen among the fans of this cult film, in which the main role was played by the son of the legendary martial artist. Then he was replaced by several other actors, but neither they nor the film adaptations themselves gained that fame.

Tattoo on the arm based on the movie "The Crow" with Brandon Lee

The film itself was shrouded in mysticism, and after the sudden death of the actor, became the subject of discussion for many years. According to the plot, the bandits brutally kill the couple, but the young man is resurrected with magical powers and almost complete invulnerability. He is alive as long as the raven lives, accompanying him everywhere.

After the release of the movie on the screens, tattoo artists received a lot of orders related to the general theme - the bird and the main character.

Crow Fan Club

In this case, we do not mean the film, but the bird itself. The phenomenon of keeping corvids in captivity is becoming popular. Many people who do this get a raven tattoo. Quite a logical decision. By the way, the army of such raven fans is growing, although it is inferior to lovers of dogs, cats and even snakes with spiders. Such customers rarely associate their pets with mysticism, and therefore the style is usually closer to realism.

White crow

What does a white crow tattoo mean? To understand the meaning, let us turn to the concept itself. Of course, in nature there are birds - albinos.

They are rare, but are photographed and described by biologists. In human society, the term "white crow" refers to outcasts, people who stand out from the crowd. They do not want to bend under the foundations, live according to imposed patterns, even to the detriment of socialization and material well-being.

Albino white crow tattoo and white crow sketch

prison theme

The zone is a separate world with its own rules and laws, which the locals call "concepts". In fact, common man it is difficult to understand all the peculiarities of the psychology of those who created these canons. It remains only to try to understand them. Prison tattoo has long been the object of research by various scientists.

Now the tattoo of a crow has a very specific meaning in the zone. For example, it can mean an abbreviation. Thief He is Born One Hatred. The bird in prison has no special meaning. So, if there are people in your environment who have been in places of deprivation of liberty, you can not be afraid that the images on your body will be offensive to them, or to you.

Male and female tattoos

It is worth recognizing that girls are more interested in such tattoos than men. Some experts believe that the meaning of men and women is different. In general, if you delve into the features, the raven itself is both a male and female sign. It represents the dark feminine side, yin.

The male side of this symbol is wisdom and awareness of mystical secrets, the ability to see what is inaccessible to the eyes of ordinary people.

The raven is a strong bird, but rarely enters into open confrontation. First of all, this is a scavenger, waiting for the prey to be “ready”. He always senses when and where the next feast of flesh and blood will take place. Therefore, he has the gift of foresight, or strong intuition.

Girls often choose sketches with flying birds. They also like options with trees, old houses, the moon, candles, or a lantern, pocket watches. In a direction such as steampunk, a raven can wear watches, clothes, a hat and a monocular by itself.

Fans of ethnic drawings are found among representatives of both sexes. This is a style reminiscent of drawings of the Celts, tribal, Romans, antique themes.

Crow Tattoo Areas

For any tattoo, the most space is on the back. Here you can stuff a bird almost life-size, given the volume of the body and tail. Unless, the wingspan cannot be shown. He is a handsome black from 1 to 1.5 meters. It is unlikely that any of the clients of the tattoo parlor have a slanting fathom in their shoulders.

Therefore, a crow tattoo on the back is done either on a scale or with folded wings. Making a large drawing, you can convey all the details, play of color on the feathers.

The back is not the most painful part of the body, so even a large tattoo can be done in two or three visits without fear that you will not survive the session. Although there are some nuances. For example, when the tattoo machine passes over the vertebrae. The closer the needle is to the bone, joint, spine, the more painful the process. If you have a low pain threshold, it is recommended to warn the master about this. Then he will decide the issue with anesthesia. Now there are many effective means for "freezing" the site for the duration of the procedure.

The next popular option is a crow tattoo on the shoulder. Here, the surface area is noticeably smaller, and one has to make do with more modest image dimensions.

However, you can see a raven tattoo on the shoulder, both for a young student and for a lady over forty. Well, it’s not for nothing that they say that all women are a bit of a witch.

How much does it hurt? If everything is in order with the pain threshold, then nothing special. Approximately the same sensations will be if you get a raven tattoo on your arm. The skin on the wrist is thin. The joint is close, there may be some discomfort. There is not enough space, so the bird will not come out very big. You can make it in the form of a half-bracelet so that the wings cover the arm on the sides.

The raven tattoo on the chest should be discussed separately. If a stern and brutal man is unlikely to have complaints about a tattoo artist who fills him with such a tattoo, then a young girl who wants to stand out may be unpleasantly surprised that doing it is not at all as cool as wearing it. The skin on the chest is quite thin and delicate, and under it there are many nerve endings. So think in advance how much you need it.

Usually, a raven on the sternum is drawn either with outstretched wings, or in plot, with a fragment of the background. You can make a sketch with the expectation that the wings will go to the collarbones and shoulders.

The raven tattoo on the neck will look original. Here it is best to turn to the style of minimalism, or graphics. It is a monochrome pattern that will look best on this area of \u200b\u200bthe skin.

Select a sketch. Plots of tattoos with crows

The only advice we would like to give you is to avoid banality. In any subject, be it Gothic, Celtic, or the occult, you can always find original sketches of a raven tattoo. Of course, when choosing, you can build on existing ideas, but copy them - become someone else's copy. If you claim some kind of individuality and independence, such actions are contrary to your position.

One of the important questions that visitors to tattoo parlors ask is whether bright colors are appropriate in such a tattoo? Depends on the general theme and the chosen style. For example, paints can emphasize the play of colors on the feathers of a bird, or be part of the design, some decoration on the background. In styles such as thrash polka and watercolor, the use of red, pink and other bright colors is considered common.

Often there are interesting images on the net. For example, the silhouette of a large crow, consisting of many small ones. There are many such ideas. We recommend that you carefully study the examples on the topic of interest before making a choice.

A photo

An interesting collection of photos for your viewing.

Crow tattoos are a great choice for both men and women who have strong ties to magic. Through the use of her image in various rituals, many people began to see her as a symbol of death, loneliness and other negative things. However, the raven has more positive meanings, which you can learn about in the article.

The meaning of the raven in various cultures

This is one of those birds that has always lived near people, so it can be found in almost any part of the world. In the Middle Ages, there was a belief that seeing a raven near the house meant inevitable death. This symbolic meaning came from the fact that birds have always roamed the battlefield looking for rotting bodies to eat.

The raven has become a symbol of death, as it has been shrouded in mystery and magic since ancient times.

But in addition to negative phenomena, such as misfortune and death, the raven has positive meanings: many myths and legends speak of the exceptional intelligence of this bird. In Athens, they were a sign of wisdom, intelligence, and in other cultures they were revered as spiritual guides, messengers of the gods and symbols of transformation. Some saw in them the ghosts of war victims and the souls of the condemned, which is why they considered them a symbol of the guardians of lost souls. In mythology, this bird has become a symbol of light, because it gave people the moon, stars, water and fire.

What does a crow tattoo mean?

The raven tattoo has the most controversial images that carry both positive and negative meanings. It all depends on what style is used for its image.

The Celtic raven is one of the most popular images that symbolizes death and war. At the same time, it denotes protection and prophecy. The Celts believed that the black raven had magical powers.

For the Native Americans, the stylized raven was more of a positive character that signified a balance between good and evil, and also accompanied the spirits to the afterlife. In this culture, a tattoo with his image symbolizes personal growth.

For the Vikings, the black raven was associated with God Odin: this sacred bird carried wisdom and informed the owner about everything important events that happened on Earth.

Raven tattoo symbolizes magic, protection, death, light, darkness, future, secrets, prophecy, war, reason and wisdom.

However, the meaning of crow tattoos can vary depending on the elements that complement them. Below we consider sketches of a tattoo with crows and their main meaning.

Raven and skull tattoo

Since the bird is a symbol of death during the war, a tattoo with its image means evil, danger, victory over the enemy. On the other hand, a raven tattoo on the skull can act as a talisman and protect the owner from troubles and accidents.

wolf and crow tattoo

The meaning of a raven and wolf tattoo is loneliness, wisdom, independence. The owner of such a tattoo can be described as a strong personality, ready for the most severe trials of life. And the existing inner core and self-confidence allow a person to associate himself with wolves.

Two-Headed Raven Tattoo

The double-headed raven tattoo is used by those seeking revenge. The first head indicates a positive attitude towards the future, and the second indicates that you remember the wounds that you received in the past.

Crow head tattoo

The head of a raven means that you can foresee the future and prepare for it. Such a drawing is perfect for people related to esotericism or magic.

To emphasize the wisdom and insight of the symbolism, the bird may be depicted with an eye in its beak, crystal balls, or a full moon.

Raven tattoo with spread wings

A bird with spread wings is one of the most common sketches. Such tattoos of ravens mean freedom and the superiority of one's own opinion over others. A person with this pattern is characterized as a purposeful, courageous person and independent of the influence of other people.

Crow tattoo by Odin Hugin and Munin

The Viking god Odin always carried on his shoulders two talking ravens Hugin and Munin, who brought him information from all over the Earth and the underworld. Therefore, the meaning of a tattoo is to receive hidden knowledge. Birds are often depicted in conjunction with runes.

Raven tattoo: prison meaning

A tattoo on a person who is in the zone means that he lives a life of thieves. If such a tattoo is stuffed out of ignorance, as a rule, it is not condemned. Symbolizes a proud and lonely person.

Raven Tattoo: The Best Places to Place a Design

As such, there are no restrictions on the placement of the picture: the choice depends on personal preferences. But the size and style of the bird image can influence the selection of the most suitable body area for tattooing.

Usually, large images are placed on large areas: the back, chest, shoulder, leg, or forearm.

Girls prefer to wear a crow tattoo on their back and wrist. Less common is a crow tattoo on the shoulder.

Men, for the most part, stuff a raven tattoo on their arm or on their chest. There is also a raven on the neck and on the forearm.

The most popular tattoo styles are: realism, trash polka, blackwork, tribal, old school and other designs that use dark colors.

Raven tattoo designs for men

Below are men's crow tattoos in various designs. Probably, photos will help you when choosing your future drawing.

Raven tattoos for women: photo of works

A crow tattoo for women, as a rule, contains the inclusion of additional elements that have a bright color: roses, clocks, tree branches, etc. This technique allows you to reduce the depressive meaning of the picture and bring more positive into it. You can verify this by viewing the photos of the finished work.

In the minds of most Russian-speaking people, a black crow tattoo is associated with death and otherworldly forces, as it is commonly believed in Christianity. After all, ravens feed on carrion and during the raging plague epidemics in the Middle Ages, when people died in droves right on the streets, and their bodies did not have time to be taken away, the crows scurrying around the corpses were a truly awesome sight. This interpretation of the raven has survived to this day. But in Japan, on the contrary, the raven is a symbol of family happiness and comfort. So lovers of Japanese culture and anime can interpret the raven tattoo in their own way, in a positive way.

General meaning of the tattoo

Raven is a bird that few people love. As a rule, such tattoos are applied to their body by men, extremely rarely by women. Most often it is performed in black and white, often with skulls. You can also see such tattoos that have bright and colored notes, these can be the eyes of a bird, clusters of mountain ash or other berries.

Raven tattoo in different nations

Each country of the people has its own characteristic of such a harsh bird at first glance. So, for example, a crow is personified with the following:

The ancient Celts, every single one, considered the bird a harbinger and a symbol of evil. As a rule, a raven is a bird that can live for many years, eating only carrion and garbage, which is why people have such a distrustful attitude towards this bird. Many people personify her with wind and loneliness. For the first time, the raven became not just a bird, but also a symbol of the ancient Celts. IN different sources it is indicated that these people associated the meaning of the raven tattoo with the image of the goddess of battles Morgan or the gods of death and war. Since then, the bird is still considered a sign of Satanism, evil, dark forces and suffering. The Celts also considered the sacred raven an important symbol used in magical rituals. In this regard, the image also acquired another designation - prophecy, the ability of a person to predict the future.
In Christianity, the raven is considered the helper of the devil and they also do not like this harsh and dark bird. But Christians sincerely believe that the crow helps those people who have chosen hermitage, but even because of this they do not consider the bird a positive character. If we talk about Russian fairy tales, then the bird is associated with sorcerers and wizards who personify evil and deceit. As for the meaning of the raven tattoo among the Slavs and Christians, they still considered it a gloomy and even suspicious animal, an avenger and a pest, and was also associated with suffering and pain. They acted as minions of Satan and often opposed white dove who was considered the messenger of God. There is also a belief that ravens live next to sorcerers and witches. On the other hand, birds could also be good companions. They saved the prophet Elijah from death due to thirst and hunger in the wilderness. Due to the large size of the bird, its awesome croaking and inedibility, the Slavs were rather wary of it.
The Egyptians consider the raven a symbol of aggression and malice. Among the Egyptians, the designation of a raven tattoo is not so positive. For this people, birds foreshadowed evil and destruction. Residents Ancient China crows were symbols of power and strength, in this country there is even a legend according to which the sacred bird lives in the sun and is a sign of sunrise and sunset. Later, the raven also became the emblem of the Shui dynasty. In Japan, the bird is still considered a symbol of strong family love.
Canadians and Indians associate the raven with rites and shamanic religions. Among the Canadian Eskimos and Indians, the bird was almost the main shaman and was even considered the first ancestor of these people.
In Scandinavia, the raven is the companion of the god Odin. In the mythology of the Scandinavians, there is a mention of the crows accompanying the god Odin in his battles and wars. According to the northern inhabitants, this bird is very intelligent and has an excellent memory. The crows of Odin Hugin and Munin in the tattoo have acquired a positive meaning: one bird symbolizes intelligence, wisdom, and the other - memory. Crow tattoo The Scandinavians believe that these birds accompanied the god Odin in wars, and endowed him with a pure mind and excellent memory.
Some countries consider ravens to be harbingers of death and the other world.
IN ancient rome crow means hope for tomorrow and faith in everything favorable and good. Hope - this is the concept that the ancient Romans put into the crow, because its cry is very reminiscent of the Latin "tomorrow". No less positive meaning of a raven tattoo can be found among the ancient Romans. It seemed to them that the bird's cry is similar to the Latin word "kras" ("tomorrow"), so the image of this animal can mean hope, faith in a better future. The neighbors of the Romans - the ancient Greeks - also endowed the raven with positive traits. He was the messenger of the gods Athena and Apollo, because of this, the inhabitants of Ancient Greece treated him with respect. The Greeks also considered the bird a symbol of fertility. It is also worth mentioning that quite often it is the crow that is considered the wisest and is called the prophet. According to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, the raven is a symbol of fertility and a faithful companion of wanderers. He was even the messenger of Apollo and Athena themselves, the ancient Greek gods, and therefore inspired honor and respect.
The Chinese consider it a symbol of masculinity and determination.
Africans consider ravens to be the surest harbinger of mankind. Africans also had a sacred assistant to magicians. It was believed that killing such an animal would certainly cause bad weather. For some nations, the raven can also be a positive symbol, so it can be easily argued that such a tattoo has a controversial meaning.
The Japanese personify birds with love and family well-being.

Styles

In order to decide on the style of the sketch, there is no need to even watch a video of how a crow tattoo is stuffed or study a whole gallery of photos of the owners of the drawing on the body. It is enough just to come to the tattoo parlor, contact the master and study the catalog presented by him a little. It is not at all necessary to understand what style the tattoo artist uses in his work, you can simply choose any option you like and fill it with it. If you are looking for a specific technique, we offer you some interesting options for your sketch.

Realism- one of the most common. The quality of the master's work is quite easy to assess, you just need to compare his drawings with real life. If even the smallest details are taken into account in the sketch, and the raven looks like a real one, you can trust the tattoo artist.

If a raven tattoo means a symbol of aggression and hatred for something, then you can’t find the best option for sketching than trash polka. It is easy to recognize this technique among others: it is distinguished by the use of only two colors (black and red), some negligence and gloom. A sketch often contains many sloppy strokes of paint.
Those wishing to fill a small and neat tattoo can be advised to pay attention to such styles as minimalism, graphics, dotwork. Similar techniques are also often decorated with watercolor elements. This combination makes the picture more vivid and not so sinister. Minimalism is ideal for girls who want to wear a small but meaningful tattoo on their body.

Tradition- a style that can be considered individual for each nation. In world culture, tradition is one of the American primitive techniques. However, it cannot be denied that the traditional ideas of different peoples differ, and the Scandinavian raven tattoo will be completely different from the Russian or Chinese "brother".

The meaning of a crow tattoo for men and women

For men:

Crow tattoo for guys. A guy who has made or dreams of getting a raven tattoo most likely wants to show his masculinity by becoming like the ancient Celts. A similar tattoo is also common in various subcultures that lean towards otherworldly themes. In this case, a raven stuffed on the body will mean death, suffering, or a connection with the devil and devilry. A lot depends on the overall picture: if a raven is depicted against the background of a cemetery, crosses or sitting on a “bald” tree, the tattoo carries a negative color, but, for example, a nesting raven is a good sign.

For women:

Women, on the other hand, do not seek to express aggression or find negative elements in the sketch they like, indicating bitchiness, cunning, or suffering. The meaning of a raven tattoo for girls most often lies in the desire to have a strong family or emphasize their wisdom, reasonableness and patience.

“Interesting fact!
In fantasy books with a mystical bent, you can often read about terrible magicians - necromancers who resurrect the dead, or witches who bewitch all the guys with their love charms. The raven on the shoulder is their constant attribute. But every girl is a bit of a witch at heart, so why not fill yourself with a crow tattoo in the shoulder area?”

Compatibility

A tattoo with a raven can be attributed to the category of drawings that do not require additional elements, since the main meaning lies precisely in the image of a bird. Photo male tattoos with the image of a raven, it is clear that combinations with plants, other animals or objects are still found. The image can be supplemented with feathers, a watch, a key, a skull, a geometric or floral pattern, a heart (the most common combination of a bird with a wolf). Some masters offer clients to hang an amulet around the raven's neck - for good luck. Occasionally, the drawing is supplemented with an inscription, which may include a lucky number or a significant date.

Depending on what image size you want, the raven tattoo can be done on different parts of the body. The raven looks especially expressive on the back or chest. It is important to mention that some difficulties may arise with its application. Drawing thin feathers on the wings requires an experienced hand of the master, so if you want the tattoo to turn out good quality, choose a professional tattoo artist with a lot of experience. If you are stuffing a solid image, the shading must be done without spaces. Circular movements or shading are allowed. In this case, an inexperienced master can severely damage the top layer of the skin.

Outcome

Today it is widely believed that the raven is a symbol of wisdom, longevity of loneliness and secret knowledge. Also, the image of this bird can mean the pain of loss. Despite the huge number of different beliefs and interpretations, the true meaning of a raven tattoo is determined only by its owner. Ask your master draw for you an individual and unique sketch crow tattoos!

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