25 Incredible Anchor Tattoo Designs

Nowadays you don’t have to be sailor to ink anchor tattoos on your body. While historically anchors were related to those who have spent their days on ships in open waters, pirates and specifically those who have crossed the Atlantic Ocean, nowadays you will see people who have never been related to sailing or waters, but choose to ink anchors on themselves. It’s because this symbol is related to a lot more than just ships and tough navy men.

Firstly, if you look at the form of an anchor, you can define two main shapes: it’s a semicircle on the base of this figure and a rod that stands straight up touching the crescent form on its’ lower point. The crescent is a symbol of femininity and the rod symbolizes masculinity, but both together forming anchor they symbolize balance between feminine and masculine values, powers and strengths – as defined by ancient Eastern cultures – it’s yin and yang.

The form of an anchor is related also to Christianity as it resembles a cross where the vertical rod is crossed by the top-bar. Bible also has some verses related to anchors giving firmness and stability sailing in rough sea. No wonders this is the most popular symbol for safety: like roots give the strength to trees that are always staying in the same place, anchors protect ships in rough waters or tattoos of this symbol guard and keep grounded people going through life’s challenges.

Besides resembling with Christianity, anchors can be tattooed also out of respect to numerous aquatic deities.  While a hundred years ago getting tattooed with rare exceptions was only for tough men, especially for those in seas and wars, now tattoos are decorating ladies as well. Anchor tattoos for girls can symbolize their devotion or being grounded into something specific.

For this reason anchor tattoos are combined with plenty of other symbols like flowers, fishes, bows and inscriptions depending on personal meanings people want to express thorough their tattoos.  For example, it’s popular to combine anchors with flowers. While anchor combined with roses means that the strength of a person is related to his/her lover (because roses most often are used as symbols of love), other flowers symbolize different values.  By the way, doesn’t it make an anchor surrounded by roses a prefect matching tattoo for lovers?