It is no surprise that there are tattoos of crosses since the cross is one of the most easily recognized religious symbols that is linked to Christianity. Nonetheless, there are a myriad of cross designs when it comes to tattooing. And it is a good idea to keep appraised of these designs to be able to differntiate the various types of crosses. Each cross has a unique significance, and you need to be able to tell one from the other.
The cross itself is an ancient symbol that goes back in history – even before Christianity. In fact, it was used by Aztecs and several pagan societies. As expected, the cross is one of the most sought after design in tattooing. Even the swallow and anchor designs trail the cross in terms of popularity. Without a doubt, selecting the appropriate design can be confusing and requires a lot of patience, since there are so many designs to select from. And more importantly, you want to ensure that the tattoo design is saying what you want it to say.
It is common for many Christians to want a tattoo of the cross on their bodies. This may or may not include the image of Christ. Additionally, some of these Christian cross tattoos carry the Sacred Heart with the cross, or is accompanied by a crown of thorns. In tattoo designs that carry the body of Christ on the cross, this is called a Latin cross.
Alternatively, gothic cross designs are not really Christian in nature as they involve a sense of dark imagery. They might portray barbed wire toward the middle of the cross and can sometimes be mixed with the image of a dagger. This kind of a cross is largely meant to be an ornamental design, and conveys a message of anger instead of one of hope.