Nowadays, it is not so often possible to see a tattoo depicting such a powerful and majestic animal as a whale. Among tattoo lovers, it is believed that this image is most common only in those circles related to the whale protection society. However, the whale, since ancient times, has been a very controversial symbol, known in all corners of the globe, and at the same time, an equally significant and powerful symbol. Having understood its meanings, everyone can find and feel a piece of themselves, their essence and worldview. But what is the difference between the modern idea of ​​the whale symbol and the opinion of our ancestors?

Whale with a house inside on his hand

The image of a whale carries many colossal meanings, and often acts as the ruler of the oceans or a symbol of the ocean expanse. Let's figure out how and why our opinions about whales differ from those of our ancestors. For modern people it is absolutely clear that the whale is an animal, in general, harmless, majestic, beautiful and calm.

This is the largest mammal on planet Earth. Its unhurried existence in the depths of the endless expanses of the sea is fascinating, and its inexplicable jumps out of the water, which scientists still cannot interpret, as well as the reverse dive, are captivating and delightful. Just look at the blow of a whale's tail on the surface of the water!

Whale in all its glory on hand

Translated from ancient Greek, the word “whale” means nothing more than “sea monster”, which received its name in honor of the goddess of the sea depths, Keto. It becomes absolutely clear that due to their enormous size, whales aroused fear, horror and, at the same time, respect and worship in the hearts of our forefathers. Some peoples saw them as messengers of the gods, restoring justice.

Others, adherents of Christianity, are the personification of the underworld or death and the rebirth that follows. In the Catholic religion, the whale is a negative symbol and is associated with hell itself. On the other hand, the whale symbol is found in Christian culture as a symbol of death and subsequent rebirth, such as a metaphor such as being swallowed by a whale and emerging from its belly.

A beautiful whale on a girl’s hip, made in watercolor style

We should not forget about the great whales, which, according to ancient beliefs, supported the Earth (along with elephants and a turtle), due to which whales are perceived as a symbol of the fundamental principle, the universal principle, something extremely important and colossal, having cosmic significance.

Sailors saw them as a danger, believed that whales personified the unpredictability of the sea depths and ocean depths, and were capable of sinking their ships. Let's also remember the three whales that hold the whole world on their backs, representing the basis of the foundations and the foot of the universe, something significant and global. Isn't this the faith of our ancestors?

Whale tattoo on a girl's back

The symbolism of whales, their meaning in a tattoo

In a word, a tattoo depicting a whale, like the whale itself, is quite multifaceted and symbolizes very different meanings in different peoples and eras, although they are all deep and thorough, we will list only a few of them:

• Infinity;
• Power;
• Force;
• Greatness;
• Unlimited peace of mind;
• Eternity;
• Depth;
• Element of water;
• Commitment to setting global goals;
• Solving large-scale problems;
• Peace;
• Harmony;
• Empathy and sensitivity;
• Intuition, the voice of the depths of our consciousness;
• Revival.

And a whale tattoo, a photo of which can be found on the Internet, identifies rebirth, as the biblical tale tells us about Jonah, who was first swallowed up by a whale, and after three days and three nights emerged from the womb, resurrected. Just like the lunar “sickle” in the form of a new moon lights up in the sky after a three-day “dark moon”.

Whale tattoo with waves on a guy's chest

Who painted images of whales as talismans and amulets?

For ancient peoples who lived by sea, the symbol of a whale is the unpredictability and danger of the water element. This association was formed due to their belief that whales are capable of destroying a ship by dragging it to the bottom, so for some sailors, a whale tattoo, a sketch of which was prepared in advance, applied to the arm or chest, served as a talisman against death during a shipwreck.

Do you know? From the ancient beliefs about three whales holding up the world, came the comparison of these animals with solidity, steadfastness, and lack of pettiness. Therefore, if you consider yourself a generous person, this tattoo will suit you!

Sketch of a whale in a jump, drawn in pencil

I really like whales and their images, but I like a little absurd tattoos, so I decided to tattoo a whale on my shoulder, which is carried through the air by balloons. For me, this is a kind of symbol of peace, and the very picture of a whale, a huge, largest mammal on Earth, being carried by light balloons... well, that’s cool. I couldn’t think of a better tattoo for myself :)

Aglaya, Rostov on Don

Whale tattoo on arm

I once heard that whales communicate on a frequency that other animals cannot, and that this is how they find mates. And there was a story on the news about one whale that couldn’t find a mate because it was making sounds on a different frequency and couldn’t hear anyone, and no one could hear it either, so it was alone. I was so impressed by this story that I became interested in these animals and became so carried away that I got myself a tattoo amulet with the image of a whale)) He protects me, I believe in it.

Arsen, Petrozavodsk

People get a tattoo with the image of a whale extremely rarely, but even in this situation, the image of a whale on the body has always had different interpretations of its meaning in different peoples of the Earth. They also have something in common. For people, in particular for sailors, the whale has been a terrible monster since ancient times, since whales could sink ships. People expressed with images of whales all the unbridled power of nature.

The meaning of a whale tattoo for girls

As mentioned above, a tattoo with the image of a whale symbolizes (meaning) various things and the person himself chooses why to get a tattoo.
Firstly, the whale personifies power and strength, both physical and, possibly, spiritual. Since ancient times, people have revered the whale as a sea god, respected it and were horrified when meeting a creature of the depths.

The second meaning of the image of a whale tattooed on the body is not so joyful, since the whale can symbolize suicide.

One of the mysteries of nature is the annual mass suicide of whales on the shores of various continents, which is inexplicable from a scientific point of view. Some females find romance in such a symbol. Also, couples in love sometimes stuff whales as a sign of endlessly lasting love.

In New Zealand, people revere such a tattoo as an oath of eternal love and fidelity. According to biblical legends, the prophet Jonah, the son of Ampharia, was swallowed by a whale and vomited back three days later. For this reason, a whale tattoo also means rebirth and eternal life. Hence, in many nations, a whale tattoo means an eternal oath.

Whale tattoo for men

Men tattoo the image of a whale on their bodies because the whale personifies power, the meaning is strength, steadfastness, incredible strength, inherent only to him. All inhabitants of the sea are afraid of whales, except for the same huge creatures. This is an amazing fact, because the whales themselves feed on small plankton. It turns out that the whale for men is a symbol of strength and resilience, power and steadfastness.

Sailors also attach great importance to the image of a whale. The captain of a ship can get a whale tattoo as a symbol of the unsinkability of his ship. Also, sailors of ancient Greece stuffed images of whales to appease the sea demigods.

Superstitions in those days went so far that whales, in addition to incredible and inexplicable properties and abilities at that time, were also credited with otherworldly abilities, such as sinking a huge sailboat with a swing of their tail or partially or completely swallowing a ship with its crew.

In turn, crew members of whaling ships often painted images of whales pierced by huge harpoons. Thus, they demonstrated fearlessness and indifference to the majestic forces of nature, will and perseverance in the face of adversity. On some ships, such a tattoo was even strictly mandatory for going to sea, confirming the fearlessness of the wearer.

The meaning of a whale tattoo on the “zone”

Authoritative persons in prisons often try to stand out from the general crowd, to make it clear to other prisoners how superior they are in a given situation. For such purposes, majestic and terrifying tattoos are ideal, which only a narrow circle of people can afford.

In this case, the image of a whale is a fairly bright and eloquent choice for people of this type, speaking for itself, since the whale is the undisputed master of the seas and oceans, which has frightened people at all times and is the cause of many shipwrecks. Therefore, along with tattoos of elephants and skulls, a tattoo depicting a whale is common in the “zone”. This is the meaning of this tattoo.

WHALE - a symbol of the colossal power of nature, it is also an ancient symbol of rebirth (the personification of the ark and the womb). It is the whale that is the “big fish” that, according to the biblical legend, swallowed Jonah and threw him back after three days and three nights (an analogy with the time that Christ spent in the tomb). The three days and three nights of captivity in the belly of the whale also suggest the symbolism of the time of the “dark moon”, when it is not visible in the sky, after which it reappears as a new moon.

Some scholars view this story as the Babylonian captivity and liberation of the Jews, based on the Sumerian-Semitic myths of the chaos goddess Tiamat. It is more likely that the belly of the whale represents the mysterious darkness of initiation, a new birth into another life.

In Islamic texts, the whale is associated with the symbolism of the ark, in Africa and with the idea of ​​initiation. In Southeast Asia, there are myths about cult heroes freed by a whale. Keith is often associated with Leviathan.

Medieval ideas about the whale's mouth as the gates of hell are based on ignorance, which portrayed the whale as a terrible monster of the seas and oceans. The huge whale in the famous novel "" appears either in the image of the devil, or in the image of God, or both at once, and in general can be interpreted from the standpoint of psychoanalysis as a symbol of repressed sexuality. The whale can also be a symbol of receptivity and intuition.

Whale ("Whale Fish")

This is how the sea monster Ketos (Latin cetus, cetus), the “big fish” that swallowed the prophet Jonah, is traditionally perceived. "And there was There are three days and three nights in the belly of this whale. And Jonah prayed to the Lord his God... And the Lord said to the whale, and He monster onto land" ( , 2). This is a prototype of a scene from the Gospel; Matthew (12:40) gives a prediction of Jesus regarding his resurrection: “For as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” This place in the text is constantly perceived everywhere as a universal symbol of the resurrection of the dead and is depicted by artistic means.
In the sailors' legend about St. Brandani (“Navigatio Sancti Brandani”) contains a motif in the spirit of monks who sail to earth on the back of a whale. It is constantly said in medieval bestiaries that even bushes grow on the back of the sea monster, and “therefore, sailors believe that this is an island, moor their ships to it and make a fire. But as soon as the animal feels the heat, it suddenly plunges into the water and drags the ship into the depths” (from which St. Brandan and his brothers were spared). “The same thing happens to those people who know nothing about the wickedness of the devil... Then They they immediately plunge with him into the abyss of hellfire.”
It is also said that the open mouth of a whale emits a scent (see Panther) and lures fish with it in order to swallow them. “The same thing happens to people who do not have a strong faith, indulge in vices, follow all temptations, and then are suddenly swallowed up by the devil” (Unterkircher).

Symbolizing, due to its size, importance and significance. absorption, suction, swallowing. Many peoples revered him as a sea god. Often acted as a symbol of the devil: the open mouth of a whale served allegory the gates of hell, and the stomach - the underworld itself. The whale sign also denoted deceit. This interpretation was associated with legends that sailors, mistaking a whale for an island, threw anchors at it, which then pulled the ships into the abyss. In the novel « “The whale alternately turned into god and devil, and sometimes acted as both at the same time. The “big fish” that swallowed Jonah and in whose belly he stayed for three days was presented in the form of a whale. In early Christian art this fish was depicted as a dragon, hippopotamus and sometimes a dolphin. Mythologem about Jonah in the belly of the whale was interpreted as a symbolic prophecy about the three-day stay of Christ in the tomb. Thus, the whale symbolized the idea of ​​​​rebirth, resurrection. There is an interpretation of the legend of Jonah as an initiation into the mystery: the whale represents the darkness of ignorance that engulfs a person when he is washed away from the ship - birth - into the sea - life. H. P. Blavatsky put forward the theory that the expression, "great whale" comes from the word Keto - the name Dagona , god of fish. Jonah, she believed, was actually placed in a cabin hollowed out inside a giant statue Dagona . Psychoanalysts interpret the image of the whale as the maternal social ego. According to some cosmological ideas of the ancients, the universe is based on the back of a giant whale swimming among the boundless ocean waters. In the Russian mythological tradition, the miracle Yudo fish-whale is known. Pigeon book reported that the Earth rests on an iron oak tree, which grows on the backs of four golden whales swimming in a river of fire. In the original version there were seven such whales. But the Earth became heavy with human sins, and four whales moved to the Ethiopian desert. After Flood the rest also sailed there whales . The earth thus lost its foundation. Source: Foley J. Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols. M., 1997; Encyclopedia of symbols, signs, emblems. M., 1999; Hall J. Dictionary of plots and symbols in art. M., 1999; Hall M. P. Encyclopedic presentation Masonic , Hermetic and Rosicrucian symbolic philosophy. Novosibirsk, 1993.

the emergence from the belly of a whale after the traditional period of three days of lunar eclipse means the emergence from the cave of initiation into a new life, resurrection.

Whale

Represents the power of cosmic waters, renewal both cosmic and personal, as well as the consuming grave. The stomach of a whale is both a place of death and rebirth. In the Old Testament, the whale is a symbol of Jonah. To be swallowed by a whale means to enter the darkness of death; the emergence from the belly of a whale after the traditional period of three days of lunar eclipse means the emergence from the cave of initiation into a new life, resurrection. In Christianity, the whale symbolizes the devil. His jaws are the gates of hell, and his stomach is hell itself.

The WHALE is a mammal that, due to its size, symbolizes importance and significance.

Archetype of absorption, sucking, swallowing. Many peoples revered him as a sea god. Often acted as a symbol of the devil: the open mouth of a whale served as an allegory of the gates of hell, and the stomach - of the underworld itself. The whale sign also denoted deceit.

Whale. Picture from Harley's bestiary (England, 13th century)

This interpretation was associated with legends that sailors, mistaking a whale for an island, threw anchors at it, which then pulled the ships into the abyss.

In G. Melville's novel "Moby Dick", the whale alternately turned into God and the devil, and sometimes acted as both at the same time. The “big fish” that swallowed Jonah and in whose belly he stayed for three days was presented in the form of a whale. In early Christian art, this fish was depicted as a dragon, hippopotamus, and sometimes a dolphin. The mythology about Jonah in the belly of the whale was interpreted as a symbolic prophecy about the three-day stay of Christ in the tomb. Thus, the whale symbolized the idea of ​​​​rebirth, resurrection.

There is an interpretation of the legend of Jonah as an initiation into the mystery: the whale represents the darkness of ignorance that engulfs a person when he is washed away from the ship - birth - into the sea - life. H. P. Blavatsky put forward the theory that the expression, “great whale” comes from the word Keto - the name of Dagon, the god of fish. Jonah, she believed, was actually placed in a chamber hollowed out inside a giant statue of Dagon.

Motifs of swallowing have been characteristic of the mythological image of whales since Old Testament times. Its open mouth served as an allegory for the gates of hell, and its stomach served as hell. The biblical prophet Jonah, swallowed by a whale, “cried out from the belly of hell” and was torn free three days later. Interestingly, the original name for Jonah's devourer, "big fish", "dag gadol", was translated into Greek as "ketos megas" and later became a common whale. It is extremely unlikely that a whale could actually swallow a human. It is believed that in the Bible the word “whale” meant the sea, especially since Jonah describes the usual drowning (“he cast me into the depths,” “the waters embraced me,” “my head was entwined with sea grass”).

Christian theologians interpreted this myth as a symbolic prophecy about Christ's three-day stay in the tomb and his miraculous resurrection. This, however, does not fit well with the symbolic Christian legends about the island whale, which exuded a sweet odor from its breath and lured small fish into its mouth, because it dragged ordinary sailors under the water - and without any prospect of resurrection. Helena Blavatsky believes that "Keto" was originally Dagon, an incredibly ancient sea deity, and Jonah was actually placed by his enemies inside a giant statue of Dagon.

The term "whale" entered our language from Greece. Ketos, or Keto, first meant the ancient Greek goddess of the deep, and later any sea monster.

Perseus saves Andromeda from the "whale"

Ancient Greek myths mentioned at least two “whale” monsters. The first of them, the Ethiopian, was sent by Poseidon to devour Andromeda, the daughter of King Kepheus and Cassiopeia (the latter once declared that she was more beautiful than any Nereid, which angered the sea god). Poseidon sent the second “cetus” to Troy after King Laomedon refused to pay him for the construction of the city walls. The monster’s intentions were standard - to eat the king’s daughter, but in the first case the monster was killed by Perseus, and in the second by Hercules. Most often, ancient Greek whales were depicted as snake-like creatures with huge teeth.

Hercules kills the "whale" with a hook and arrows

The Indian relative of the leviathan whale was Makara, an aquatic creature most often depicted as a huge dolphin with the head of an elephant. It was considered the vahana (mount) of the gods Ganga and Varuna, as well as a symbol of Kama, the god of love and debauchery.

The latter is of particular interest. On another part of the world, in South America, there are legends about encantado (Spanish - enchanted) - werewolf dolphins (Amazonian inias, or botos), living in a magical underwater kingdom. For Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Guiana, these dolphins become something like European mermaids. They supposedly know how to turn into people.

Makara, elephant dolphin

The transformation occurs mainly at night. A werewolf can be identified by his prominent “dolphin-like” forehead (to hide it, the “charmed” have to constantly wear hats), extraordinary musical talents and extreme lust. After communicating with a sea lover, human women become pregnant and give birth to ordinary children.

Like mermaids, the “enchanted” love to kidnap people - women, their children born to them, or the first poor thing they come across with whom they can play and communicate in the underwater kingdom. The magic of the “enchanted” is very strong - they command the weather and subjugate the mind, so much so that even experienced shamans cannot dispel the spell.

Similar beliefs still exist today. Some Brazilians still avoid approaching rivers alone, and when they see a dolphin, they panic. It is believed that the legend of ladies' dolphins has very real premises. Curious Amazonian ini are not afraid of people and love to watch them, sticking out of the water, and dolphin genitals are very similar to human ones.

According to ancient Eskimo legend, the dolphins emerged from the fingers of the girl Sedna, cut off by her cruel father as she clung to a boat, resisting attempts to drown her.

Psychoanalysts interpret the image of the whale as the maternal social ego. According to some cosmological ideas of the ancients, the universe is based on the back of a giant whale swimming among the boundless ocean waters.

In the Russian mythological tradition, the miracle Yudo fish-whale is known. The Dove Book reported that the Earth rests on an iron oak, which grows on the backs of four golden whales swimming in a river of fire. In the original version there were seven such whales. But the Earth became heavy with human sins, and four whales moved to the Ethiopian desert. After the Great Flood, the remaining whales also swam there. The earth thus lost its foundation.

A deep image of the act of swallowing, suction, the motive of absorbing the vital force of the victim. In the Christian tradition, a whale means the devil, and the open mouth is an allegory of the gates of hell, and the stomach is the container of hell itself. “You cast me into the depths, into the heart of the sea, and the streams surrounded me, all Your waters and Your waves passed over me” ( And she 2.4). In the Bible, the whale symbolized the long-suffering prophet Jonah, whom people sacrificed to the sea to calm the storm. For three days and three nights Jonah was in the dark belly, after which the whale vomited him back. This sign is interpreted as a symbol of transfiguration and transformation. Psychoanalysts understand the image of the whale as a maternal social ego, chosen by the subject for its refuge from a state of uncertainty and despair. Sailors perceive the image of a whale as a sign of deceit. In the novel Melville's Moby Dick “The whale turns out to be either a god or a devil, or both at the same time. . Astronomical atlas “Uranography” by Hevelius. In ancient Mesopotamia, the constellation Cetus was dedicated to the monster Tiamatu , a symbol of horror and the depths of the sea. Greek myth tells of terrible things Kite who lived off the coast Ethiopia , in the domain of Cepheus. In desperation, Cepheus turned to the oracle, asking what to do to avert disaster from the country. The oracle replied that in order to calm Kita , you need to give him the king’s beloved daughter, the beautiful Andromeda, as a sacrifice to be eaten. Cepheus and his wife Cassiopeia decided to sacrifice their daughter to save the country, and took Hadromeda to the seashore. But fortunately, one flew by Perseus helped the girl and with a wince Gorgon Medusa turned Keith into a rock. To perpetuate this feat, the gods turned the heroes of this story into constellations. In Russian tradition, the miracle Yudo fish-whale is known. IN Pigeon book the image of a ketra-fish is described. There the Earth rests on an iron oak standing on golden whales that swim in a river of fire. In the original version, the Earth was based on seven pillars. Then she became heavy with human sins and four whales went into the desert Ethiopian . After the Great Flood, all the whales swam there. So the ancient Russian people associated the end of the world with the symbol of the whale. In a cosmological context, the bottom of a whale's stomach can mean the bottom of space, the extreme degree of fall, from where it is impossible to hear the voice of the one who gets there. This position can also mean salvation. “... And with the voice of praise I will offer You a sacrifice; I will fulfill what I promised: salvation belongs to the Lord! And the Lord said to the whale, and it spewed Jonah on dry land" (Jonah 2:10). Coat of arms with whales of the German island of Borchum In European heraldry the figure of the whale appeared quite late. As a rule, the whale was placed on the coats of arms of settlements and communities of whalers, symbolizing the main occupation of the inhabitants of these towns and towns.

Whale tattoos are not often found among fans of body painting, since the symbolism of this image is ambiguous. At all times, the huge marine mammal has evoked conflicting emotions: fear and reverence, fear and respect. We will try to answer the question of what a whale tattoo means in the modern art of body painting.

The whale is the largest mammal in the world, which can reach 30 meters in length and weighs 150 tons. The name of the animal is translated from ancient Greek as “sea monster”; it received this name in honor of the goddess Keto.

Some peoples considered the whale to be an assistant to the gods in the fight for justice. In antiquity, there was a legend that the Earth rests on three pillars, representing the basis of all foundations and the foot of the world.

For seafarers, the creature personified the unbridled power of nature, destruction and unpredictability. An encounter with a huge animal caused panic and often led to the sinking of ships and the death of people. A whale tattoo could have been considered an amulet in those days to protect against shipwreck. The image of mammals pierced by harpoons symbolized fearlessness and resilience in the face of the forces of nature and adverse circumstances.

For Catholics, the image of this mammal meant hell, and in the Christian religion - death, subsequent rebirth and eternal life. According to the biblical legend, the whale, at the request of God, swallowed the prophet Jonah and three days and three nights later vomited him back from its belly. During this time, Jonah realized his mistakes, repented, and the Lord granted him salvation.

In the modern world, the whale does not evoke negative emotions in people and is associated with greatness, power, and tranquility. The mammal has a romantic meaning among New Zealanders, who get tattoos as a sign of eternal love for their soulmate. In modern industry and medicine, this animal is also significant. For example, whips and even furniture are made from whalebone, and the fat is used in cosmetology.

The meaning of a whale tattoo

A whale tattoo can have a twofold meaning: either a person wants to demonstrate his positive sides to others with such a design, or it is a sign of suicidal thoughts. In the latter case, an important role is played by the fact that whales are thrown ashore every year and die in entire flocks. Scientists are still struggling with the cause of the anomalous phenomenon, but they cannot give an exact answer. It’s not hard to guess what a tattoo with a blue whale on a blue background means – it’s an emblem of suicides. Sketches of the mammal can be seen on the hand or wrist.

In other cases, a whale tattoo means strength, infinity, calm, and peace. The owner of such a picture is a person who sets global goals and certainly achieves them. He has well-developed intuition, and he is guided by his inner instinct when making certain decisions.

Thus, the meaning of a whale tattoo can be called quite broad. The wearer of such a tattoo has a philosophical view of life, is outwardly detached and withdrawn. Despite his apparent carelessness, he is sensitive to criticism and takes everything to heart. The whale tattoo (see photo in the gallery) is suitable for both girls and guys.

What a tattoo means for prisoners can be understood based on the technology of applying the composition. A terrifying image suggests that a person is demonstrating his superiority over others. Typically, a design in the form of this mammal is applied to the chest.

Which sketch to choose

A tattoo sketch in watercolor style will be a wonderful decoration for the fair sex. Soft pastel colors, blurred contours, smooth lines make this technique stand out from other styles. A whale tattoo on the collarbone will emphasize the fragility and femininity of its owner.

Sacred meaning can be given to a drawing in the style of geometry or abstraction. The sketch can be either color or black and white. Precise lines, intricate geometric shapes combined with the main image will become an original and stylish composition for any person. You can depict a colored whale tattoo on the ribs, leaving a black tail in a triangle or diamond shape. For large-scale drawings, the back, arm, and chest are more suitable, and for small ones, the stomach, thigh, wrist, and neck.