The Wisdom of Spider Tattoos
The spider is rich in meaning and historical significance, so it of course is a popular tattoo. Nearly every culture has a fable or story about spiders, and for some the spider played a special role in the shaping of their people.
Because of its web-making abilities many stories tell of how the spider showed man how to weave.
A spider can represent fertility, wisdom, balance and harmony. It is cunning, and often is depicted as a grandmother to the people, protecting them beneath her web.
In Greek mythology there was a woman named Arachne who was a fabulous weaver, so much so that she made the goddess Athena jealous. Athena resolved to make Arachne’s life miserable, and eventually Arachne died. Feeling remorseful, Athena made Arachne into a spider so she could weave again.
In Europe the spider received negative connotations as it was partially blamed for the black plague. Some fear the spider so much that it is an actual medical condition called arachnophobia.
Spiders can have many meanings, from fear and death to perseverance and creativity, you just need to choose what symbolism you prefer.
Back to the complete list of tattoo designs and their meanings.
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