The Wounded Connotations of the Dagger Tattoo
A dagger or knife design have shown up a lot in tattoo themes, since the dagger has been used in ceremonies since long before modern civilization. Daggers were thought to be first used by the Aztecs to cut the beating hearts out of their human sacrifices as a way to pay their respects to their Gods, so to them a dagger represented the power of the Gods.
In many other cultures, particularly the Middle East, daggers were used to sacrifice animals placed on altars for their own gods. To spill blood was thought to be a great power, and thus the dagger often represented Death.
Many military persons have tattoos that include daggers, one of the weapons that they carry. Ferocious, quick, tenacious and able to inflict much harm the dagger can represent an assassin as well. The dagger was eventually lengthened into a longer version, the sword, which was able to inflict much damage in battle.
The knife also had many practical uses, for skinning animals’, sharpening weapons and eating with. A dagger could also be a status symbol, as some of the more wealthy would carry bejewelled daggers that were coated in gold or silver.
There are many combinations of the dagger with other symbols that create new meanings, as such:
- Blood Dripping Dagger – willingness to take action, no matter the consequences.
- Dagger Through Skull – Death, but can also be used as a talisman for protection, or represent a man who murdered someone.
- Dagger Through The Heart – Betrayal in love, most often through infidelity, or cynicism about love.
- Dagger Through A Human Head – often a tattoo worn by soldiers going to war.
- Dagger In The Teeth Of Skull – action, being ready for anything.
- Dagger in The Flesh – being wounded in life, cynicism.
Back to the complete list of tattoo designs and their meanings.
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