![]() A tattoo of a pig on the left knee: it was a symbol for safety at sea it was a symbol of protection for sailors. When a ship goes down these crates would float and then catch currents and wash ashore with the other debris from the ship, making the pigs and roosters often the only souls to survive a shipwreck. These animals were originally carried on most ships in wooden crates. The pig and the rooster: are tattooed on either the calves or the top of the feet, to prevent a sailor from drowning. Rooster and pig: on the ankles are to prevent a sailor from drowning.Swallows on the chest would lift the soul to heaven if the sailor perishes. Two swallows, one on each hand means "these fists fly" ie. Swallow: Initially, Sailors got swallows before they went out to sea, because swallows always come home nowadays, one swallow means you've sailed 5,000 miles, and two means 10,000.Sparrow: for every 5000 nautical miles traveled.Rope around the wrist refers to a sailor is or was a deckhand.Harpoon refers to a member of the fishing fleet.Crossed anchors on the web between the thumb and index finger for a bosns mate. Anchors: The original meaning, that you've sailed across the Atlantic.Golden Dragon means the sailor has crossed the International Date Line. ![]() A dragon indicates a sailor has served in China.While there were undoubtably variations in meaning depending on time/region, here are a few of the most classic tattoos and what they’re believed to mean: Over time, these men traveling between the Pacific and the United States was what helped introduce tattooing to our culture. This tradition goes back to the 1700s when Captain James Cooke made his now-famous voyage to the South Pacific Tahitians and decided to get souvenirs of their “tatau” with his men. Tattoos were common, for the most part, only among sailors in the early half of the 20th century. Sailors have traditionally favored tattooing of their bodies.
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