One fascinating design that you may want to contemplate getting for your next tattoo is the lighthouse. While it’s not that popular in mainstream tattoos, it is still a very popular subject in American traditional tattooing and men and women do still seek them out.
The lighthouse is great because it can symbolize a host of different meanings depending on how you use it. Although they can be designed in several sizes, due to the details and shading, the lighthouse tattoo looks even better at large scale.
However, you know how good the lighthouse tattoo looks because you are at the point where you want to find out what it symbolizes for those who are wearing it. In most cases, you will have to ask the owner of the tattoo to find out what it means but the lighthouse tattoo is an old symbol and for the time when it was worn by sailors and men of war, it had a more significant meaning than you might think.
In this post, we are going to be going over the lighthouse tattoo’s meaning and talk about what it symbolizes for those who have the tattoo. We will also talk about some of the different variations we have seen of the lighthouse tattoo and talk about whether the symbolism changes when tattoo enthusiasts add different images to the picture. We hope that you are ready for your own lighthouse tattoo by the time you are done reading this post.
Lighthouse Tattoo Meaning
For centuries, the lighthouse has served as a beacon of warning, to deter ships from crashing into the rock face and other dangerous crags. While you don’t hear too much about lighthouses anymore, that doesn’t mean that they don’t make tattoo designs. There are plenty of lighthouse tattoo meanings and even more designs to choose from, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many people want to get one of these tattoos.
Because their function is to light up the darkness in order to direct the stray towards a safe passage, lighthouses are seen as a good omen. People who have had to overcome a lot of obstacles in their lives might find that the lighthouse tattoo is perfect for them. It reminds them that there is a way out of the darkness if they keep trudging forward.
Lighthouses have long been a symbol of hope and charity, a figurative beacon of light for those in need. Someone who is an active supporter of charities might find that a lighthouse tattoo is the perfect design for them to represent who they are. With this lighthouse tattoo meaning, it is not uncommon for people to surround the lighthouse with smaller tattoos to make the meaning clearer.
Stretching high into the sky, lighthouses are built tall and strong, fortified to withstand the tumultuous waters of the sea. Their construction is essential to sailing and the safety of the ships and sailors aboard. A lighthouse is not the first thing that someone thinks of when they want a tattoo to represent strength, but it actually works quite well, especially for anyone who is out on the water a lot.
Lighthouses are grounded into the earth, a symbol of the steadfastness of land compared to the tempest that the ocean can create. Anyone who either wants to live a more grounded life or already does might find that the lighthouse tattoo is perfect for them. It shows that they love the simple life and don’t want to take unnecessary risks that could alter their lives in negative ways.
The image of the lighthouse is a symbol of stability, strength, and reliability. These are three lighthouse tattoo meanings that many people would want in their tattoos. Since it is pretty rare to get multiple meanings in one design, anyone who wants to show that they are good family people while also being strong and reliable will probably find this tattoo to be a great choice.
The lighthouse can also be a symbol of solitary strength, a large structure that is relied upon by many for direction and guidance. In this way, it is a depiction of leadership and authority. A father or mother who is very proud to be the leader of their family might find the lighthouse tattoo to be fitting for their place in life. A sports coach could also get a lighthouse tattoo to represent their leadership abilities.
The lighthouse stands alone, commanding, dependable and sound. This is yet another “leadership” meaning that plenty of people would love in their tattoos. It can both represent who the person is now or who they aspire to be. When this type of lighthouse tattoo meaning is used, it is often accompanied by text or another image or two to make the meaning a little bit clearer.
Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, an ancient structure whose height was nearly mythological. It was three tiers made of light stone and rose four hundred feet into the sky, a true symbol of fortitude as it withstood multiple earthquakes. It is a unique a beautiful lighthouse, which is why many people use its image when they get a lighthouse tattoo. The Lighthouse of Alexandria doesn’t have its own meanings, but you can always just use any of the other meanings found on this page.
Because modern technology has allowed sailors to navigate much easier, the necessity of lighthouses is dying. Therefore, the image of the lighthouse is becoming one of antiquity, especially considering its design dates back to the ancient period. This leads to their dependable quality and their status as a symbol of security. Some people prefer to get aged-looking lighthouse tattoos to make the meaning come through a bit more.
Regardless of how the image is depicted, the lighthouse is a constant representation of dedication to safety and loyalty. When this symbol is seen, the qualities of a reliable, strong, authoritative and courageous character are immediately brought to mind. The owner of a lighthouse tattoo can use one or all of these meanings depending on who they are and who they want to be.
Lighthouse Tattoo Variations
The lighthouse tattoo has some different variations that might change the meaning slightly. Then you’ve got the different styles that we see the lighthouse tattoo inked. Even a change in style might change the different but you’d have to ask the person with the tattoo to be sure. Below are a few of our favorite variations of the lighthouse tattoo.
Lighthouse in a Bottle Tattoo
The lighthouse in a bottle tattoo is a unique version of this tattoo. Because lighthouses were linked to ships and the navigation through the shores, it has a strong connection to ships. In relation to this idea, many hobbyists are into building ships in a bottle. The connection is obvious so some people choose to be a little more creative and put the lighthouse in the bottle. The idea is still the same though. It is a tattoo that is used to help you navigate through your life.
Lighthouse and Compass Tattoo
The lighthouse and compass go hand in hand in terms of navigation. They are both tools that would help guide a ship, or you, safely through your journey. In this way, it makes sense that the two of these images be incorporated into the same tattoo. The sailors of old might have multiple tattoos that represented their safety in returning home from the rough seas.
Lighthouse and Attendant Tattoo
The lighthouse and the attendant tattoo are a symbol of a protector. Because the lighthouse is already a symbol of strength and safety, the attendant being tattooed in the picture is more of a testament to the strength and protection that the lighthouse offers. This tattoo can be done in many styles but we have seen this one done in the realism style more often than not.
About Lighthouses
Lighthouses are known to help ships navigate the rough seas and find their way home. This has been the case since the Pharos of Alexandria. It wasn’t easy for a captain to find their way to shore by way of the dangerous coastlines and reefs but the lighthouse was literally a beacon of light and hope. They have even helped airplanes see their way to shore when the weather is rough.
The first lighthouses were actually hilltop platforms with giant fires that would help the men at sea to detect the ports. As time passed, the construction of these lighthouses improved and soon they were towers that rose far from the ground with giant lights inside instead of the burning coal or wood that had previously been the identifying characteristics of the lighthouse.
Back in 1782, Aime Argand, a scientist from Switzerland, created the Argand lamp. This lamp puts thorium dioxide over a flame. The actual flame was fueled by vegetable oil, olive oil, colza oil, whale oil and any other oils people could get their hands on. However, around the year 1970, kerosene took over as the most popular choice of fuel for the Argand lamp.
Kerosene would eventually be replaced by acetylene gas and electricity, which is what we all use today. And now that we are talking about current times, you might be interested to know that almost all the lighthouses that existed are gone. Much of that has to do with ships and planes not needing this beacon for home anymore because we have the Global Position System (GPS). But in the great country of Canada, they are keeping the traditional lighthouse alive with staffing around 50 of them.
Even though Canada has the most active lighthouses, the United States is home to the most lighthouses in the world. In fact, there are more than 115 of them just along the Great Lakes. Michigan has the title of most lighthouses of any state in America.
Their might be some old lighthouses in Michigan but the oldest lighthouse in the world is called the Tower of Hercules which resides in Spain. It is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is still operational and was built during the first century.
Even though you might think of a lighthouse attendant position as a very demanding job in times when jobs were very tough and strong men participated, the lighthouse attendant was one of the first government jobs that the U.S. government allowed women to work in.
As you can see, the lighthouse tattoo is for more than just sea lovers. It’s a design that has plenty of meanings and can come in just about any size. It’s also a pretty uncommon tattoo design these days, so someone who wants a unique tattoo that has strong meaning might just find the lighthouse tattoo to be the perfect choice.