Horse Tattoos:A Symbol Tattooed In Centuries
Horses are hoofed mammals that evolved for the past 45 to 55 million
years from being a small multi-toed animal to a large single toed animal
it is today. Horses are believed to be prey animals with an instinct of
fight or flight. Once threatened, their first reaction is to run and
flee. When flight is not a very sensible option, especially when their
off springs or their young are threatened, horses tend to fight back as
well. In some instances, they do not flee. They can be curious and tend
to evaluate whether the cause of their fright is really threatening.
Horses are also social animals that can develop social attachments with
their own kind, other animals and humans. Domestication of horses are
common nowadays. These animals communicate in various ways. Though
called herd animals, with much respect to their hierarchy usually led by
a mare, horses are teachable to be comfortable with human companionship.
As horses are animals existing million years ago, they are also common
ancient symbols for early man. There has been a lot of drawings
including horses found to have adorned several caves and can be dated
40, 000 years back. Although horses have been one of the staple food for
early hunters, they were also adored for their strength, speed, stamina,
grace and beauty. Gods and horses have been considered inseparable in
history. In ancient Greece, horses, because of their beauty, elegance,
loyalty and intelligence, were not only given wings but also
immortality. Horses are believed to be a symbol of both war and peace as
suggested by the unique qualities of their heart and mind. They were
also believed to be divine beings that are off springs of the Four
Winds, that are tasked to carry Zeus in their chariot. Pegasus has been
the most famous among all divine Horses. Pegasus was believed to have
wings that carry the thunderbolts of Zeus across the sky.
Horses are also common symbols of loyalty. Amongst all mortal creature,
horses are perceived as beloved and trusted friend in difficult moments.
A horse, even as portrayed in movies, will be whinny and restless as a
form of mourning for its beloved rider. Since horses have the capability
to identify their owners and always return to them no matter what
happens, they also became symbols of mutual respect. The bold nature of
horses to run wild with the use of its stamina and strength has also
become a symbol of victory over hardship or any form of oppression.
The elegance and beauty of horses has become a trait closely associated
with Royalty and nobility of those in the higher ranks. A Knight in
shining armor is believed to be not in full character without his
trusted horse. In history, Kings, Generals and Emperors were always
given the best horse before they go to a battle. In the deaths of a
leader of army, their most prized horses get buried with them.
Horses symbolize a lot of things and its meaning may differ from one
culture to another. It has a lot of depth that we need to understand
before we choose to have it tattooed on our skins. In the next few
pages, we will explore the different horse tattoo designs and its
meaning as well as several horse tattoo ideas, pictures and tattoo
machines.
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