Pirate tattoos can be seen in two different ways. It might be the tattoos that pirates might have had or tattoos of pirates. We can go into a little bit of both but when thinking about pirates, we think of sailors gone rogue on the sea. Men are tired of working for a living and taking what they want.
Some things that come to mind when I hear about pirates are Hayreddin Barbarossa (Redbeard), Blackbeard the Pirate, Jack Sparrow and Captain Hook amongst others. Some of them real and some of them fiction. No matter what they are, we have feelings associated with these characters and their images symbolize traits that people with the pirate tattoo might want to portray.
In this post, we will be reviewing what it means to have a pirate tattoo and some of the tattoos pirates used to get. We will discuss the symbolism and meanings behind these tattoos and talk about the different ways the pirate tattoo has been portrayed in ink. We hope that by the end of this post, you will have a better idea about pirate tattoos and what they represent.
Pirate Symbolism
People associate a lot of representations with pirate tattoos. Pirates sailed the seas taking what they wanted and doing what they pleased. In this way, a pirate tattoo represents freedom. The pirate tattoo also symbolizes other traits like courage, bravery, deceit, unity, loyalty and wanderlust.
All these traits are qualities we think of when we think of a pirate. The unity of the pirate crew and in the same breath, the deceitful and low character acts they would commit. Things like stealing and murder are not admirable qualities but the freedom of going to get what you want and going where you want are things we associate with freedom.
However, some of these tattoos have their own meanings for the people who have them inked on their bodies. Below are some examples of different pirate tattoos we have seen and what they mean to the person with them.
Pirate Tattoo Variations
Within this genre of pirate tattoos, there are many different angles you can take. There are many fictional characters that might have meaning to you from childhood or you might be interested in the real pirates that sailed the seas long ago. You might even get a pirate tattoo that is representative of what the pirates of old may have had.
Below we will talk about some examples of pirate tattoos that others have gotten that could give you a better idea of something you want to get.
Pirates of the Caribbean Tattoo
The whole Pirates of the Caribbean franchise started with The Curse of the Black Pearl. This is the movie where we are introduced to the legendary pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. Played by Johnny Depp, Jack Sparrow is known as somewhat of a conman in the “pirate industry”. However, he has a lot of fun and is constantly putting himself into sticky situations in which he inevitably escapes.
Other than Jack Sparrow, there are other popular characters that have had roles in this 5-part (so far) series of movies. The logo from Pirates of the Caribbean is also a well-known image outside of the characters. This movie gives us plenty of ideas for pirate tattoos and if you are a fan of the movie franchise, you’re probably having a tough time deciding on what direction to go in.
Captain Hook Tattoo
Captain Hook is probably the most notable fictional pirate in the history of TV and movies. In the Peter Pan series, Captain Hook spends his lifetime trying to destroy Peter Pan be in control of Neverland and get revenge on Peter for cutting his hand off. Captain Hook is well known for his missing hand replaced with a hook. Hook is the captain of the Jolly Roger. He and his band of pirates gave up sailing the seas in favor of destroying Peter Pan.
The Captain Hook pirate tattoo is a popular choice for pirate and Disney fans alike. He is also likable for being a villain. His everlasting effort and failures to beat Peter Pan, his lack of flying ability and his fear of a crocodile consistently on the hunt for him make Hook a sympathetic figure.
Skull and Crossbones Tattoo
The skull and crossbones tattoo is a very popular image. It is a symbol that looks like a human skull and two longer bones crossed either behind the skull or below. In the modern era, this image represents hazardous materials or lets the viewer know that something is dangerous. In terms of pirates, this is an image to represent death.
It’s either a warning or a message of impending doom. The skull and crossbones pirate tattoo is a symbol that will represent something of the dangerous variety for the person with this inked.
Pirate Ship Tattoo
The pirate ship tattoo is also a popular option for those interested in the history of pirates and want to get a pirate-themed tattoo. These ships generally have a darker feel. In many stories, these ships come out of the mist and attack some unfortunate ship with goods and riches aboard. Ships have always been a nice choice for those wanting a tattoo representing the sea. If you are looking for a bit of a darker feel, the pirate ship tattoo is a great choice.
Blackbeard The Pirate Tattoo
One of the most popular real pirates in history is Edward Teach better known as Blackbeard. He was a pirate of English blood who sailed around the West Indies and the east coast of the North American colonies. Not much is known of Blackbeard in his early years, but we do know he joined the crew of Captain Benjamin Hornigold around 1716. Hornigold gave Blackbeard control of one of his captured ships and the two of them terrorized the sea for a year.
So, if you are looking for a pirate tattoo to represent some real carnage, Blackbeard is the way to go. If you are just looking for help in finding an artist to make your vision come true, let us know and we can help.