The rose is the most popular flower not only in the world of flora: it is more often than any other colors are chosen for tattoos. Roses are stuffed on different parts of the body not only by women, but also by men. What is the secret of such popularity? What is the meaning of a rose tattoo?
The meaning of the rose tattoo is one of the most versatile, deep and loaded with symbols. Throughout the history of mankind, the images of the rose have always been given a deep meaning. In the myths and legends of different peoples of the world, there were almost always mentions of this beautiful flower with a magnificent aroma.
In India, it was believed that the most beautiful woman in the world (Lakshmi) arose from a blooming rosebud. In the myths of Ancient Greece, the beautiful Aphrodite came out of the sea foam, which flowed from her body to the ground and turned into a rose. Therefore, beauty is one of the main symbols of the rose.
A Persian legend says that red roses appeared when a nightingale fell in love with a beautiful white rose, hugged her, and blood flowed out of a thorn-pierced chest, which colored the flower. In ancient Egypt, Cleopatra loved roses, she showered her beloved Mark Antony with petals when she received him. Therefore, one of the meanings of the rose is true love. The holy book of the Koran says that a white rose grew out of the sweat drops of the Prophet Mohammed when he made his night journey to heaven. The rose for Muslims is a symbol of purifying power. The ancient Romans believed that the rose symbolizes morality, fearlessness and courage. Warriors put wreaths of roses on their heads, preparing for battles, and the image of a flower decorated their shields. Another meaning of the rose among the Romans is silence, mystery; the famous Latin saying "sub rosa dictum" literally translates as "said under the rose" and means that everything said must remain secret.In China, roses were considered a symbol of the emperor, and in England-elements of the heraldry of the royal dynasties: Lancasters and Yorks, who in the struggle for supremacy started armed conflicts called the war of the roses. Hence another flower symbol – power.
In Christianity, the rose is associated with the immaculate Virgin Mary, so a beautiful flower also symbolizes purity and innocence.
Depending on how the rose is drawn, the meaning of the tattoo may also change. The flower itselfsymbolizes love, beauty and glory, the rose leaves – joy, the straight stem – fortitude, and the thorns-longing and sadness. If the picture shows sharp thorns and a bud that has not fully opened, then this means a combination of fragile femininity and masculine strength in one person.
The owner of a tattoo with the image of a rose, as a symbol of beauty, believes that the flower reveals not only its external, but also its internal beauty. The thorns present indicate that appearance can be deceptive, and the inner world of a person is not at all what it seems to others.
A rose, as a symbol of love, shows that its owner is in love, and if there are thorns on the flower, they mean that love can bring suffering, and also that it requires certain sacrifices and lovers should give in to each other.The rose has quite a lot of values and symbols and they can change depending on its color:
Quite often, a rose on the body represent not one, but combined with other figures: butterflies, hearts, hours, etc. In this case, the meaning of the tattoo will also change. For example: a rose in combination with a dagger means passionate feelings "love-hate", a rose and a skull – grief over the loss of a dear person, a rose and the cross is also the memory of a loved one, the rose and the barbed wire are the suffering and pain caused by love. Often, next to the rose drawing, a ribbon is depicted with inscriptions - quotes about love or the names of loved ones.