Anchor Tattoo: Meaning and Background

There are some motifs that seem completely timeless to us. Although they do experience special weddings from time to time, they remain an integral part of the tattoo scene. The anchor tattoo is currently more popular than ever, and it is one of the oldest tattoo motifs. Find out what the meaning of the anchor tattoo and where it comes from in this article. We also have great pictures of anchor tattoos for you.

The origin of the anchor as a tattoo

The anchor is actually a ship accessory that digs into the seabed and ensures that the boat stays in place. In this way, the anchor can save the lives of the sailors in the event of a storm, as it prevents the boat from drifting away. But it also stood for something resilient in other contexts: in antiquity for anchoring in the Christian faith, in Poland as a symbol of resistance during the German occupation. In the 19th century it had already become an important symbol for seafaring and was soon to be found on the skin of many sailors. It is said that anyone who wore an anchor as a tattoo had already crossed the Atlantic at least once.

Later it was often engraved together with other motifs that we know today as typical old-school tattoos: the swallow, the rose or the steering wheel tattoo. They mark the beginning of western tattoo art, so they are very traditional.

The meaning of the anchor tattoo

Many people have the anchor set for fashion reasons without further questioning its meaning. As you can see, the anchor symbolizes above all strength and support; it is not called a lifeline for nothing. The anchor tattoo can still embody these meanings:

- 1 protection & hold

In many cases, an anchor stands for the support that one wishes for in stormy times during one's life or has perhaps already experienced. So it should protect and always offer support. It can symbolize friends or family who are always there for you when things get difficult.

- 2 love & loyalty