Ideas for an old school tattoo. Old school tattoos

Translated from English, "old school" is a popular tattoo style that existed in Europe and America. This style appeared in the 19th century, when drawings of anchors, ribbons, skulls and angels were usually depicted on the body. Such tattoos were made by sailors, so the names of local residents, quotes and names of famous events often appear in this style. This type of tattoo is done with the help of very bright colors, which are outlined with bold black lines.

The story goes that sailors are the first people to revive various art and tattoos in Europe. The life of sailors was not easy, and only the strongest survived. They were quite superstitious people, so they believed that by depicting some signs on the body, they could be saved from an impending storm or a shipwreck. Drawings of fluffs and sailboats were popular among sailors. However, despite the fact that they led a hectic life, they constantly thought about their families and children, so hearts, mermaids and names were often depicted on the body. And so a new trend of tattoo appeared - Old School.

To date, among the most popular tattoos in the style of Old School are: anchor, swallow, heart and rose.

The Meaning of Popular Old School Style Tattoos

Anchor is a very ancient tattoo, invented in Western Europe. It symbolizes a sign that helps to always stay afloat, that is, it gives hope for strength and salvation. Sailors loved to draw an anchor, as it is strongly associated with marine work. Such a tattoo is close to sailors from all over the planet.

The swallow is a symbol of happiness and good luck. Sailors made such a tattoo after they made a long journey. For them, the swallow symbolizes the return home, which was safe. After all, swallows are a sign that a sailor is sailing to land.

The heart symbolizes femininity, therefore it is a sign of the expression of love. It contains everything: loyalty, friendship, and understanding. In the Old School style, he is often depicted on his chest, thereby expressing his energy and mercy.

The rose, like the heart, expresses sincere and pure love. She is the ideal of things in the world, therefore she is popular among both men and women. A fiery red rose simply speaks of love, but a rose without thorns speaks of love at first sight. Previously, in ancient times, a white rose depicted on the body meant virginity.

You can follow the best masters in style old school (old school tattoo) in our

Tattoo appeared at the dawn of the formation of the very principle of tattooing. Its origins go back to the 18th-19th centuries, when sailors adopted the tattoo culture from the natives they met.

Gradually, the symbolism has undergone changes, acquired an original meaning. Modern old school is a destination for the strong-willed and adventurous seekers.

The list of characters includes more than 1500 images. The style is unique and 100% recognizable.

Tattoo old school characteristic features of the style

Old school has a unique style. On the one hand, the drawings seem lubok, simple and unsightly. On the other hand, applying an image and making it colorful is a whole art.

The applied drawings look a little playful and deliberately representative. In such an expression, the roots of the origins of style are visible.

To find out what old school is, just look at the photos with the sailors. The harsh conditions of many weekly crossings on the water and the test of the elements tempers the character.

Perception also undergoes transformation. Without humor and strong nerves, the sea can break a person. It is this theme that reflects the old school tattoo.

The characteristic features of the style are:

application principle;
subject of images;
style;
color selection;
unique font.

Being on the ship, the sailor did not have access to complex devices. That is why the drawings were stuffed with darning needles.

The paint was wound up to a depth of 3 mm almost to the surface layers of the muscles. Modern technology more forgiving. But the drawings are still full of artsy colors and marine themes.

The idea of the old school spread thanks to the fashion for vintage. Typical paints:

green
blue
black
red
Orange
yellow
blue.

Paints do not have shades or overflows. The lines are drawn with a thick black edging. Gradients and penumbras are performed by the absence of color or a transparent background.

Dagger and rose tattoo

Significance for men and women

Old school tattoos have the same set of symbols but different meanings for men and women.

Men's tattoos are addressed to inner strength, courage and the ability to resist fate. That is why among the sets of drawings there are many anchors, lighthouses, images of the coast, birds.

The meaning of male tattoos:

anchor - reliable, a symbol of St. Nicholas, the ability to withstand the blows of fate;
swallow - luck, knowledge of your path, strength not to stray from the right course;
hourglass - the power of time, "over the years I become more reliable";
lighthouse - the way home, the search for your own path, which will end in success;
ship - home, family;
mermaid or female forms- fortune, favorite of fate;
- "I'm not afraid of death", you are with death.

Women's tattoos are addressed to the personal qualities of the wearer. A stuffed rose means that the drawing means the power of attractiveness, fatal passion.

The old-school image of a rose was originally stuffed by "port wives". By the symbol on the shoulder or arm, the sailors could single out from the multitude of women the one that was ready to warm them with her love.

Gradually, the original meaning faded into the background, leaving only the image of strong passion and love on the material level.

Another meaning of the rose says that the bearer will not allow herself to be pushed around. She is a strong and confident woman.

Ribbons and decorations show that the girl or woman is fully aware of her attractiveness. A swallow on any part of the body means "bringing good luck."

For a guy, an old school tattoo with a woman's name is a reminder of his beloved. Many men going to sea portrayed objects or words that allowed them to remember their loved ones.

Not many people could afford to carry an image in the form of a miniature. But the drawing on the skin made it clear the seriousness of the relationship to a loved one.

Anchor old school

A tattoo that is close to all sailors without exception. According to beliefs, it helps to always stay afloat, a sign of security, strength and hope for salvation. Traditionally, it was pricked after a sailor first crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

The image of the anchor on the body in the old school style

Did you know? It is noteworthy that the anchor can be combined with any other symbol. This kind of flexibility is another Old School trait that we can't be happier with. And this applies not only to the anchor, absolutely all Old School tattoos easily and organically coexist with each other.

Swallow in flight in old school style

I considered such a star a purely prison tattoo. But then I got a better understanding of the symbolism and realized that the prisoners simply took an already existing idea and rebuilt it in their own way. I like the concept, I'm thinking about where and how exactly to fill this sign so that they don't mix it up.

Oleg, Murmansk.

Advice. In order to avoid being mistaken for a tattoo made in prisons, you just need to add other elements of the old school to it or simply make it in color. But even without this, prison stars are fundamentally different from sea stars in terms of quality of execution, and the fact that they are pricked on the elbows, shoulders, knees or hands in a strictly symmetrical manner and change their meaning depending on the place of application. So there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

Heart in old school style

One of the most "intelligent" old school fallen women

Of course, a symbol of love. It is often depicted along with a ribbon on which the name of a loved one is written. Stuffed on the chest, although this is not necessary. Also, the heart is used as a sign of the soul, vitality and high moral principles. Almost everything can be embodied in this symbol: romance, passion, friendship, courage, kindness, honor. Even the divine principle is present in the image of the heart, as it reflects the sacrifice of Christ in the name of humanity.

Fallen woman

This is how the heart is depicted in the style of old school

Depicts the vices common to almost all sailors. Women, gambling and alcohol. Depending on the main addiction of the owner of the tattoo, the devilish woman holds a bottle, cards, dice or other things related to entertainment in her hands. Close to this topic are tattoos of girls in the Pin Up style, popular in the 50s of the twentieth century.

Female attractiveness will definitely never go out of fashion.

Cross old school

Square cross in old school style. Usually goes in combination with something, in this case with the inscription

Despite the riotous lifestyle, the sailors did not forget about religion. Therefore, such symbols as words of prayers, quotes from the bible and crosses were quite common. However, long before the advent of Christians, the cross was a symbol of immortality, protection and interconnectedness of all living and non-living things in the world. The intersection point of two lines is understood as a combination of the material and spiritual essences of a person, their dependence on each other and the impossibility of the existence of one separately from the other.

The cross is the most recognizable symbol on earth.

Panther old school

Panther grin in old school style. Usually the panther is depicted as attacking with fangs and an open mouth.

A cunning and dexterous animal, the only cat that can hunt in water. In the myths of many cultures, it is a symbol of shamans who have access to other worlds, including the afterlife. There was an opinion that the panther was a werewolf, passing from one state to another. In fact, panthers come in two different colors, and tattoos with them have different meanings.

The black panther is the patroness of the night and the moon.
The yellow panther, better known as the jaguar, is associated with a bright sunlight and the sun itself.

Video: tattoo artist stuffs a tattoo in the style of Old School

Old school tattoo sketches

Free carefree life, the spirit of adventure and treasure hunt, mermaids and robbers... Old school follows the old traditions, which still conquers - well, we submit to the old school and share our impressions with you.

Style history

Old school, literally "old school", originated at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. This is not only a tattoo style, it is a lifestyle - love for the old order of things, worship of "that" music, films, atmosphere. It would seem, what is the difference between old school and retro? The line is thin, but there is: if a retroman is a fan of mass culture, "mainstream" of a certain time, then the fan of the "old school" has an emphasis on personal experiences.

“Retro is common, but everyone has their own old school”

- the hero of the book "Oldschool"

This style expresses the history of a person, not an era or a country. Children of the seventies are nostalgic for the irrevocably gone USSR, children of the nineties are sad about Nokia 3310, Tamagotchi and VHS cassettes. Everyone has their own nostalgia and their own personal, real, old school.

Old school tattoo

The style went to the masses from sailors who went on long voyages and made tattoos-amulets and tattoos-reminders of those who remained on the shore. Old school is different from other marine tattoos (read about them in a separate article): the drawings are not very realistic, without volume and shadows, always with thick, black outlines and bright colors. As a plot in the 21st century, they often choose not ships and mermaids, but something personal, topical and not related to the sea.

Popular motifs in old school tattoos

Martin

Made for good luck. For sailors, it means a safe return home - swallows fly close to land and board ships to rest. A sure sign that there is not much left before the end of the journey.

Heart

A symbol of love, kindness and honor. Often stuffed with a ribbon on which the name of the mother, dear person, friend. Sometimes an old-school heart is made as a memory of a departed love.

Anchor

Old school classic. It is believed that with an anchor a person will not go astray and will remain himself in any situation. Often supplemented with inscriptions, mermaids, wind roses or lighthouses.

Flame

Passion, a symbol of transformation and rebirth, destruction, creation and purification. Fire means something in every culture, it inspires fear and respect and is one of the four elements of life along with Water, Wind, Earth.

Eagle

A popular patriotic symbol of the US Navy, it is often depicted with the American flag and personifies honor, courage, and strength.

“old school”(Old school) - a style of tattoos that used to exist mainly in European countries and America. The history of the style began at the end of the nineteenth century. The most popular in this direction were drawings of skulls, hearts, ribbons, angels, crosses, fire, flowers and anchors.

Sailors often made tattoos, so it is not uncommon to see inscriptions with names, names of great events, and quotes in this style. These tattoos are done in bright colors, which are framed with a bold black outline.
Sailors were the first people to revive the art and practice of tattooing in Western countries, as they first visited the Pacific islands of Polynesia and other states in Southeast Asia. Cook, in his explorations of the islands of Tahiti, Hawaii and Zealand, became the first to make notes and sketches of tattoos of local residents. The concept of tattoos comes from a Tahitian word that was reminiscent of the sound when the inhabitants made tattoos with their tools.

Sea life was quite harsh, and only the strongest men survived. Sailors, being constantly at the mercy of the wind and the sea and dependent on the whims of nature, were superstitious and believed that tattoos could protect against falling overboard, from predatory animals, from the wreck of a ship. Some tattoos were done while crossing the equator, or when crossing Cape Horn, when visiting the Eastern countries. Sailboats and cannons were popular tattoos among sailors. Despite the wild life, many tattooed prayers or texts of religious content, this reminded of piety and protected from corporal punishment. And of course, the sailors often thought about the families and girls they left behind on land. Therefore, mermaid tattoos, hearts and names, various amulets have always been liked by sailors, and this is how the direction in the tattoo of the 19-20th century was formed - Old School.

Meaning of Old School Tattoo Anchor

Tattoo Old School - Anchor

Anchor- a standard old school tattoo, most popular in Western countries over the past centuries. It has ancient roots that go back hundreds of years into the depths of time, it was considered a symbol that helps not to go astray. The anchor represents hope for salvation, safety, caution, reliability and strength. Anchors were drawn by people who are closely associated with maritime work. This tattoo is close to sailors around the world, often drawn after the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

The meaning of the Old School Swallow tattoo

Martin. Tattoo Old School

Martin symbolizes good luck and happiness. Usually a swallow is a tattoo that sailors get after a journey, after traveling five thousand miles. For a sailor, this bird is a symbol of a safe return home, since the appearance of a swallow is a sign that land is nearby. Swallows usually fly long distances, making flights through the water, during the flight they sat down to rest on the ships, thus giving a sign to the sailors that the land was not far. When traveling ten thousand miles, a sailor could stuff a new bird on the other side of the body. Two swallows tell us about a successful journey.

Old School Heart Tattoo Meaning

Heart of Old School

Heart
A tattoo in the form of a heart, with a ribbon next to it, or a scroll with an inscription - here explanations will be redundant. You can part with your loved one, but the tattoo will remain. Among the admirers of the Old School style there is an aphorism: “Love lasts six months, and a tattoo lasts for centuries!” The heart tattoo is a classic old school design that can be seen as an inverted triangle that has become a symbol of femininity and is often used to express love. The heart is considered a symbol of love, feelings and the power of life for humanity. The heart is often identified with the soul, acts as a symbol of truth, conscience and moral purity. We say "heartless" about people who are unfair or very cruel. Friendship, courage, romance and emotional expression are embodied in this symbol. The heart occupies an important place in the religions of the planet, and is recognized as a symbol of love, as well as the divine principle. It is also a symbol of mercy, piety and understanding. In addition, the heart is a medieval symbol of Jesus, the sacrifice, especially in the Catholic Church. The sacred heart depicts the love of redemption for God, the source of illumination and happiness. Due to the fact that this symbol is very common on the planet, hearts have become a popular tattoo motif. The heart pierced by an arrow is a symbol of the expression of energy, flow and penetration. National banners in the form of a heart - often speak of a patriotic personality.

Tattoo Old School ribbon with inscriptions

Old School Slogan Tapes

Ribbons with inscriptions
The plot will tell a lot, but there is a time in every person's life when a few chosen words can give more information than a picture. Every person at least once would remember the exact time and place of moments that are precious and have become something special. They make the heart flutter and beat faster! Sometimes, a few words can say it all. Tattoos with words long time were common, and even now tattoo inscriptions are very popular. In those years, sailors depicted words on their fingers. The most famous were: “life is difficult”, “love and pain”, “love and hate”, “hold on” (do not sink, stay on the water) on the fingers of one hand, and “quickly” (quickly return home) on the other, served protective amulets. Well, now the ribbon with the inscription is a great addition to any Old School plot.

Old School Razor Tattoo Meaning

old school razor

Razor
Razor tattoo design can symbolize a large number of things, but they all carry the meaning of sharp, cutting, irritated, unrestrained. The razor was used as a suicide tool, synonymous with "cutting the veins". The straight razor is a common Old School design used by cocaine users in the seventies. Using a dangerous razor, cocaine was divided into doses. Also, a razor can display depression, an explosive character.

Old School Rose Tattoo Meaning

Old School Rose

Rose in Western countries it represents the same as the Lotus in Eastern countries. A symbol of love, but special, pure. Because of its scent, beauty and form, the rose is considered the most perfect symbol.
Of all the flower designs, the rose tattoo is both the most popular and sought after. An interesting fact is that the rose is in demand among men and women. A red rose speaks of love, while a thornless rose speaks of love at first sight. Yellow roses express joy, white - reverence and respect, pink - admiration and sympathy, orange - enthusiasm. In ancient times, the white rose symbolized virginity. The variety of roses and the fragrance has inspired people at all times. According to myths, the white rose appeared at the moment when Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea. Later, when Aphrodite, in a hurry to meet Adonis, she hurt her leg on a rose thorn, the white rose turned into red.
There is also a legend about the origin of thorns: Rodanaz was beautiful girl, and all men dreamed of marrying her to themselves. However, she was proud, and thought that mortals were unworthy of her. One day, the men entered her house with force. The goddess Diana saw all this, and, angry at the pride of men, she turned the girl into a rose, and them into thorns.

Rock of Ages
A picture depicting Jesus Christ, an allegory is a classic version of tattoos. For sailors, for example, it symbolized hope, protection and support, it was an amulet and a talisman. Having phrases like, “Hold on!” gave hope and faith, and was also an amulet. Another version was that the religious symbol, which is depicted on the back, could soften corporal punishment, and such a sailor was less punished. It is also common to have a tattoo depicting a stone cross, or depicting a person or a sailor kneeling in front of a stone cross. Often the Christian faith of people was mentioned in the form of a stone, the foundation-foundation on which a virtuous life is built. This was based on the belief that the house was as strong as the foundation on which it was built. The stone cross is known as the "Rock of Ages".

The meaning of the horseshoe tattoo

Old School Horseshoe

Horseshoe- the main design in the old school style. The horseshoe lowered down was an amulet of protection and good luck. In the image, a horseshoe can be displayed alone, as well as together with other images that are associated with good luck.
In many European countries and in America, horseshoes are nailed to the doors of barns and houses, and depending on cultural beliefs, they can be in the lower position or the upper one. If the horseshoe is in the upper position, this means a bowl where you can catch good luck. And if shown down, it meant bad luck poured out of the bowl, which does not stay in it for a long time.
The horseshoe became a symbol of good luck, abundance and wealth during the Roman Empire, when the first Catholics shod horses to protect their hooves from damage and pain. The Romans built many roads where horses were an important part of the empire's transportation system.

Meaning of Old School Pinup Tattoo

old school pin-up

pinup- a synonym for "Girls with a good figure"
In 1955, Bettie Page received the title of "Miss planet picture girl".
Betty is a household name. In the design of the old school - the image of a girl, whose beauty borders on a hint of disobedience and disobedience. The girl has become a legend, a symbol of beauty and femininity, and inspires new generations of tattoo lovers, because the attractiveness of a woman is aimed at seduction, admiration and it never goes out of fashion.
Pin-up - a photo of a beauty, a pretty girl.

The meaning of the Old School Panther tattoo

Panther Old School

Panther- a very ferocious animal from the cat family. This animal is more cruel and dangerous than a tiger or a lion. The panther is an independent and cunning animal, as well as the only feline that is able to hunt in water. The panther appears in the mythology of many cultures in Latin and Central America. There are in the art and religion of pre-Columbian civilizations. Many cultures have noticed that panthers come in several colors - black and yellow. Believing that the black panther is associated with the moon and the night sky, and the yellow panther (jaguar) is associated with the sun and light. This animal was a symbol of shamans who could unite the conscious and unconscious worlds, who had access to the afterlife. Many believed that the panther was a werewolf who was able to transform himself into a different image.

Old School Tattoo Meaning Devil Woman

Devil Woman Old School

devil woman– also known as the “fallen woman”. A tattoo that consists of a pattern of vices, often a woman with a bottle of alcoholic drink, cards, dice, or other attributes of excitement and fun. The motto of the tattoo: “Song! Women! Wine!"

Cherry Tattoo Meaning

Cherry
Fruits and berries are symbols of abundance, and very red, ripe cherries are no exception. Cherry is considered a symbol of chastity and purity, as the fruits ripen on trees. A plucked cherry was considered a loss of innocence. A bitten cherry meant the loss of virginity. Cherry, which is surrounded by fire, tells of great desire and passion.

Tattoo Meaning Billiard Ball 8

Billiard ball 8 Old School

eighth ball– this design can have multiple meanings and its symbol depends on the context where it is used. In general, the “8 ball” ends the game in the pool, but due to the rules of the game, a pocketed “8 ball” automatically makes you a loser. And due to the fact that many billiard halls are known for their bad reputation, the “last ball” in the tattoo means alcoholic drinks, women of easy virtue, drugs, gambling.
Some people see it as getting a chance, if you're lucky, everything will come true.
The 8 ball is a tattoo that also hints at the test of fate, symbolizes the willingness to take risks and the possibility of good or bad luck.

The meaning of the tattoo Knife or Dagger

Dagger Old School

Knife or Dagger– such tattoo designs are famous in many styles. A dagger or knife can be made as an independent tattoo, or be part of the picture.
From the history of this symbol: The ancient Aztecs used ceremonial daggers to carve beating hearts from human victims, thus paying tribute to the gods. The dagger represented the fear and power of the gods. Wherever sacrifice was used, knives were used to make sacrifices to the gods. Knife drawings, bloodletting and death are all intertwined. The ability to shed blood, the essence of life, is a powerful image and symbol that brings death. The knife or dagger has been famous since ancient times. Many knights and nobles carried daggers as weapons in addition to swords and spears, so daggers were a warrior's last line of defense and were used at a kind of last chance. Since ancient times, the knife has been the first tool in the arsenal of people, it has been used to protect housing, extract and cut food, becoming better with the development of mankind. Due to the fact that the knife had a large number of functions, and all men from different classes used them, over time, the handle began to be decorated with gold and precious stones.
Knife and dagger tattoos are very popular in Old School and New School. The knife/dagger is a symbol of readiness to take action, to be fearless and courageous, ready to answer for an insult. Pirates, skulls with a knife or dagger in their teeth - symbolizes the determination of action, thereby showing us that the owner of this tattoo, a decisive person, is “ready for anything”. A knife in the heart is infidelity, betrayal in love. A skull pierced with a dagger is a tattoo of a person who risks his life, an adherent of his ideas.

The meaning of the tattoo Hands of the Apostle

Hands in Prayer Old School

Hands of the Apostle
hands in prayer
If the famous artist of the Middle Ages, Albrecht Dürer, was alive now, then he would be richest man. The copyright for the painting "Hands in Prayer" could sell for millions of dollars. Initially, it was a sketch from the praying head of Frankfurt. A later version of the painting appeared in another work by Durer - the hand of the apostle, who stands in an empty grave and looks at the sky. The original version of the drawing was destroyed by fire in the middle of the 18th century, but there are many copies that are good, as is the sketch. Now Durer's work is the most popular in tattoo design for all occasions.
"Hands folded in prayer", often combined with various additions. It can be ribbons with inscriptions, just inscriptions with the names of your beloved and dear people, hearts, rosaries, crosses. In most cases, "hands clasped in prayer" is applied as a memory of someone.

The meaning of the tattoo Star of navigation or wind rose

Rose of the Winds Old School

navigation star or Rose of Wind- an ancient and not outdated motif, which has been known for over a hundred years. The stars were often a guide, especially the North Star. Sailors drew navigational stars, because. they often relied on them, life depended on it. The sailors were superstitious people and thought that their star-shaped tattoos would be an amulet of well-being on the way. Around the same time, the starfish began to appear on compasses. In later times, such stars became a symbol of the life path, its search. They began to be made by those who wish not to go astray, so the navigation star became a guiding one - the image of the star helped not to go astray. Later, such stars became symbols of high encouragement, awards.

Star Tattoo Meaning

Old School Stars

Star- a common motif in a tattoo. The symbolism of the star embodies the concept of the divine spark in each of us. And their nature prompts us to show the stars as a struggle against the darkness and the unknown. Stars with different designs have their own symbolism and meaning, their design depends on the number of angles and their direction.
You can read more about the symbolism of various stars

Old School Lightning Tattoo Meaning

Lightning Old School

Lightning Lightning and thunder are phenomena familiar to everyone. Is there a more beautiful sight than flashes of lightning, fireworks of electricity, these flashes, like magic and something incredible, appear seconds before thunder! At night, a flash of lightning made you see everything as in daylight. A powerful symbol and a godsend for a tattoo! Ancient people had a large number of explanations for this natural phenomenon, and many myths tell of gods and incredible creatures who used lightning as a weapon. People were impressed by the power and magic of lightning, as the places where the lightning struck were the scenes of severe destruction. The trees burned, the earth burned out, the rocks became sand. And if there was any person nearby, then he was dying.
For a long time, lightning was a symbol of the power and wrath of the gods. The Greeks believed that lightning was thrown by Zeus, the father of the gods, who lives on Mount Olympus. Lightning was a symbol of power, as well as the vagaries of nature. Due to the fact that lightning comes with rain and thunderstorms, it was a symbol of abundance, because. rain is an important condition for the ripening of the crop.
The lightning bolt tattoo is popular in most Asian cultures. Zippers are used in Japanese tattoo, in particular, when depicting a flying dragon.

Flame Tattoo Meaning

Flame Old School

Flame is transformation, destruction, passion, beacon of light and warning. Fire and flame were mainly used in rituals, because. the smoke of the fire ascended into the sky and was associated with the wishes and requests of the people. The ability to destroy made fire respected. But fire can not only destroy, but also give warmth and light. Fire and flames are considered a symbol of hope, light and knowledge. Fire is one of the 4 main elements. In Hinduism, fire is 1 of the 5 sacred elements that make up beings and is considered the eternal basis for religious ceremonies. In Christianity, it is a spirit and is often used when describing hell. Fire is also a symbol of temptation and sin, and Satan is shown surrounded by fire.

The meaning of the tattoo Dice

Dice Old School

Game of dice is a well-known numbered dice game. Everyone played it as a child and it is very popular in all cultures of the world. When playing dice, they rely more on luck, luck than on ability and skill. As a tattoo, the game of dice is used as a metaphor for life: sometimes in life, as in games, it is more important to get a chance, to "grab your luck", than to rely on talent and ability. Therefore, the game of dice is considered a symbol of good luck. At the same time, dice is often interpreted in tattoos as an element of gambling, and is part of human vices: alcohol, drugs, women of easy virtue, etc. The phrase “throw the dice” means that you need to take a risk, where the result will be unknown, because a person cannot control it.

Skull tattoo meaning

Skull Old School

Scull- skulls are represented in many tattoo genres: Asian themes, Old School, New School, Biomechanics and many others.
There is something mystical in the largest bone, looking at the skull, we see that death is staring at us with large empty eye sockets. No wonder the skull is known as a symbol of death. The symbol of the skull in cultures is a reminder of mortality. The physical object of the skull is used to symbolize the mortality of humans. In the end, none of us can escape death. In the art and culture of Christians, the skull is presented as a symbol of eternity, repentance and vanity, and also reminded of death. Historically, the skull has been a famous symbol of triumph over the enemy, and a warning to people who are defeated in battle. Skulls were trophies and many skulls could be stacked by the victors in public places, thus it was proof of the victory over the enemy and a reminder of the losses of the vanquished.
You can also read about the meaning of the skull tattoo

Cross tattoo meaning

Cross Old School

Cross- there is no universal religious symbol than the usual Cross.
Religious symbolism is shown in most tattoo genres, so it can be argued that all tattoos among different nations carry a strong spiritual element. The tattoo in the form of a cross has been known for at least the last two centuries, they were tattooed by sailors and merchants. This is an old school classic, and a very popular symbol among many walks of life in all countries of the world. The cross itself is an ancient and important symbol in the history of mankind - vertical and horizontal lines, which represent Nature, the point of intersection of 2 lines - represented mystical and spiritual concepts that embraced the meeting of the material and the spiritual in human existence. Even before the advent of Christianity, the cross was the most common symbol on the planet: for example, in the Scandinavian countries, in America, China and Africa, it was a symbol of life and immortality, abundance, the union of heaven and earth, sun and stars and was used as a protective symbol .
Several millennia ago, the Hindu Cross was a symbol of good and prosperous for people. This cross was called the circle of life, denoting the changing world.