The deification of nature by representatives of the ancient Slavic tribes was reflected in the worship of mythological images. Our ancestors believed in them, tried to adopt the qualities and strengths of the gods. Today, the direction "Slavic tattoos" is popular - it combines modernity with an era when strength and courage were valued among men, and fidelity and purity among women.

Varieties of East Slavic tattoos

Any type of tattoos symbolizing pre-Christian Slavism is associated with a historical or cultural-ethnographic basis. Sketches of Slavic tattoos refer both to the pagan or Rodnover style, and to the elements of artistic craft - Gzhel, Palekh patterns, images of epic characters. Early Christian images are also popular. Images of saints, folk heroes, runic symbols are amulets that protect the owner.

Semantic content

Each meaning of a tattoo carries a meaning, reflecting the character of a person and the inner content.

• Pictures of wild animals - a bear, a wolf, symbolize the belief of our ancestors in the origin of these animals.
• Trees are a symbol of fertility, longevity.
• Pagan gods have a protective function, giving energy, affecting the soul and body.
• Slavic tattoo amulets refer to the runic script known in Rus' before the spread of the Cyrillic alphabet. Each symbol is fraught with information and is endowed with magical powers. Carefully study the sacred meaning of each sign in order to choose the one that suits a particular individual.

Tattoo style

Given that the sketches of Slavic tattoos are not limited to stereotypes, a creative approach to creating drawings is possible. The realistic genre performance of Veles, Perun, Svarog is no less interesting than the outline or symbolism. Additions in the form of ornaments or patterns are suitable for the main pattern.

Competent combination of images of different stylistic orientation increases the aesthetic and semantic components. Using rune tattoos, a sample of the original outline, they enlist magical, or in modern terms - psychological help from the ancient gods. Later variations of signs are included in the elements of ornaments, which also strengthens the spirit and leads to well-being.

Location on the body

There are no exact instructions for choosing a place on the body. But it is reasonable that if Slavic tattoos reflect the desire of the owner to get closer to the roots, then it is preferable to stay on the upper torso. On the neck, the parts of the back attached to it, the chest will look large-sized drawings. For the forearm, long, stretched images, runic signs, Old Slavonic letters are suitable. A sequence of runic symbols is placed on the back along the spine, which makes the back of the owner of such a tattoo visually wider and more powerful.

Organism and beauty are the main criteria when choosing images.

Based on the well-known inclination of the Slavs to remain captive to mythological worldviews, it can be hypothetically argued that the history of the origin of the custom of tattooing among the ancestors of the Russians goes back to the distant past.

Literary sources and the surviving customs of the Russians proved that one of the main characters of epics, legends and other forms of culture of ancient Slavic folk art was a dragon. Our ancestors often depicted him harnessed to a plow, which the Russian hero plowed, he was molded from clay, carved from wood, decorating platbands and handles of ladles. According to ancient beliefs, one of the purposes of the dragon is to scare away evil spirits.

The Eastern Slavs preserved stories about how Perun, pursuing a snake (dragon), pierced him in one case with a spear, in another with lightning. Such a plot could be found both in wooden art and in bone carving (in Novgorod). Let us recall the image of the current coat of arms of Moscow returned from the past heritage - George the Victorious, piercing a dragon-serpent with a spear.

Not only the dragon occupied the consciousness, thoughts and minds of the Slavs, but also the lion. It is no coincidence that we find the image of this animal, exotic for Russia, in the plots of popular fairy tales, clothing decorations, and even on household items.

In folk tales, drowned girls became mermaids, who could tickle a late bather to death or drag a lonely night traveler into the water - a guest who found himself on the shore of a reservoir. The dead, not buried according to the rite, became a vampire. This was another of the common characters in folk tales and epics of the ancient Slavs. Therefore, they put on all sorts of amulets (amulets) that could protect them from evil spirits - ghouls, sorcerers, werewolves. The charms of the ancient Slavs were different, but most often they were a figurine of an animal (mythical or real), a bird, to which all kinds of bells were attached, which drove away evil spirits with their sound.

The pagan Slavs deeply believed in spirits, sorcerers, brownies, wood goblins, bathhouses, and similar fantastic creatures that, according to their ideas, lived in their neighborhood. Some they loved, others they feared. And all this, of course, was and continues to be reflected in their work.

Object-shaped symbols of real and unreal creatures, animals and birds, which the ancient Slavs used in their folklore, fine art and decorative art, have become the favorite characters (heroes) of the plot and compositional solutions of skin painting among modern Russians. These are dragons, lions, mermaids and vampires, goblin, Baba Yaga and similar creatures.

There is a message from the Arab diplomat Ibn Fadlan, dated 921-922, that during his journey from Baghdad to the country of the Rus, who settled along the Volga River, he observed a tattoo from the fingernails to the neck of the locals - images of trees, figures animals and other signs and symbols. The listed set of tattoos was not accidental: the tree symbolized not only space, but also time. This is evidenced by the riddle that has come down to our time: "There is an oak, there are 12 branches on the oak, 4 nests on each branch, 7 chicks in the nest" - about a year, 12 months, 4 weeks, 7 days. The image of a tree was also present in conspiracies. According to the beliefs of the Slavs, the Mother of God, Paraskeva and other saints live on sacred trees (oak, apple, birch, sycamore, etc.). The tree in wedding ceremonies embodied the fertility of wildlife, the tree of life. The image of various animals served as amulets and amulets protecting the Slavs from evil spirits and sorcerers. This motive was typical of peoples with a mythological worldview. I.G. Ostroumov believes that in the past, the tamga among the Voguls (Mansi) primarily served as a talisman. According to I.N. Gemueva and A.A. Lucidarskaya, tattooed symbols - "Banners" on the hands of the Mansi (Voguls) also initially played the role of amulets, they were a sign of human existence on earth.

With the spread of Christianity, the custom of tattooing began to be ruthlessly eradicated, for it was considered by the church as an integral part of pagan rites. We find such an explanation in the Gospel of Mark, where it is said: "For the sake of the dead, do not make cuts on your body and do not prick writing on yourself." But it cannot be argued that religion, while prohibiting tattooing as a pagan rite, completely denied it. In the "Revelation" of St. John, in chapter 19, it is said this about the new coming of God: "On His garment and on His thigh is written the name: King of kings and Lord of lords." Perhaps the prohibition of tattooing was caused by the desire of Christian priests to protect the people from all kinds of false prophets, each of whom already then spoke about the end of the world and called himself the new Messiah.

At the same time, when the tattoo contributed to the promotion of a religious cult, a specific religion, the church welcomed it in every possible way. For example, in Bosnia, among the Catholic peasant population, it was rare to find a woman or a girl without a tattoo depicting a cross on her forehead, on her chest and on the upper part of her forearm. In this way, the defenders of the Catholic faith prevented the conversion of Catholics to another faith, in particular to Islam.

Fanatics of a particular faith often used a tattoo to put on their bodies signs of belonging to a particular religion as symbols of faith and its propaganda among the population. At the same time, in addition to symbols of faith, they undoubtedly depicted love, family and other plots that testify to the character of their owner.

It is impossible to deny the fact of tattooing among early Christians. It can be assumed that the first Christians applied the initials associated with the name of Christ (X or I.N. - Jesus of Nazareth), the image of a lamb, a cross or a fish. This fact is confirmed by Procopius from Gaza, who wrote that many of the first Christians wanted to imprint on their palms the sign of the cross, the name of Christ, the XP monogram or the "+" sign on the forehead, which was presented to its owner by the cross. This custom was later adopted by the crusaders, who replaced the Greek cross with a Latin one. The portraits of crusader knights, made in enamel technique in 1150 by the famous Flemish gilder Godefroyde de Claire, have a symbol of the Christian faith in the form of a cross on their foreheads. The mentioned miniatures by Godefroyde de Claire adorn the crucifix in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Saint-Omer (France).

Various nations have long practiced the custom of tattooing and applying various dyes on the face with the aim of perpetuating the pilgrimage to holy places. For example, from the fifteenth century there are reports of pilgrims about the perfect wanderings to Jerusalem. In particular, the German A. Bappenheim testifies that during his visit to Jaffa in 1563, he immortalized the sign of the cross on his hip. Another pilgrim, Slisanki, wrote in 1662 that he ordered in Bethlehem to gouge out on his shoulder the image of the holy tomb and the sign of the five holy crosses, as well as Mount Kavaria and Zion. He did this also because there was a belief: if the Turks captured the ship during a trip by sea, then, having seen the tattoo of the pilgrims, they would let it go. This custom lasted until the end of the 19th century, which is confirmed by the biographers' reference to George V (1865-1936), King of England, who, while still in his capacity as heir to the throne, visited Jerusalem in 1881, made a commemorative tattoo on his shoulder in the form of a star of Bethlehem . This custom has been preserved among the fanatics of the faith to the present day.

The origin of the tattoo, in particular on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dates back to the pre-Christian period. Arguing this point of view, the Polish ethnographer C. Truehelka refers to ancient historians and writers such as Herodotus, Strabo, Pliny, Pomponius Melu, who described in their writings the custom of tattooing in the Balkans and neighboring territories. C. Truehelka stated: "Apparently, this custom came from the east and was brought to the Balkans by the Scythians from the Traks who inhabited the Balkan Peninsula at that time, this custom was adopted by the Ilirs, thanks to whose mediation it spread all the way to the Adriatic coast, which is confirmed by Strabo" . Researcher A. Haberland wrote in 1886: "Today's custom of Bosnia and Herzegovina may be the last echo of an unusually old practice, confirmed by the ancients." At the same time, it seems to us that the cited scientists overestimate the role of the Scythians, who share almost a thousand years of history with the Slavs. The Scythians could not have a direct influence on the formation of the art of tattooing among the Slavs. In our opinion, the possible error has its roots in the biographies of Herodotus and other ancient scholars. For example, the Greek author Prisk tells about the "Scythians" who lived in the Northern Black Sea region and on the Danube in the 5th century. AD, who treated the ambassadors with honey and millet bread. It should be noted that the Scythians were defeated by the Goths as early as the 3rd century BC. BC, and honey and millet bread are a traditional dish among the Slavs, so Priscus most likely met not with the Scythians, who by that time did not exist, but with the Slavs. The same inaccuracy was made by Herodotus, who considered the Slavs to be the descendants of the Scythians.

However, let us return to the modern descendants of the ancient Slavs. In the Russian hinterland, in the most remote rural areas of our homeland, to this day you can meet old people with a tattoo in the form of "checkers" - a chessboard, which they call "Morning". In their opinion, it means that the bright moments of life alternate with the dark ones. And sometimes the drawing is bizarre, and it is difficult to say what exactly its carriers wanted to depict. This is a kind of interweaving of geometric ornament, plants and animals. When asked what it means, we often get the answer: “I don’t know, my great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather wore such a pattern, in our family all men were tattooed with such a pattern.” And we can only guess what our ancestors wanted to express with this image, maybe it was an amulet or a sign of belonging to a certain community, which helped the ancestors find their dead soldiers on the battlefield.

There is no reason to doubt that the Slavs have used tattoos since ancient times for various ritual, religious, social, religious, ideological and personal purposes.

The Slavic population also actively used the tattoo as a method of resisting initiation to a faith alien to them.

... The drawing breathes with the body.
I have a tattoo
Lives his own strange life...

Recently, many people put tattoos on the body. Slavic tattoos are becoming increasingly popular among those who like to apply ethnic motifs to the body. There are no traditional Slavic tattoos. Motifs of Scythian patterns, Russian ornaments from old books, elements of embroidery on old clothes, fairy-tale and mythological characters, etc. are used for drawings. And the ancestors made tattoos for themselves, an interesting question, isn't it ...

The ancient Slavs had tattoos - this fact is not disputed by scientists. In addition, science, for obvious reasons, does not have material evidence of what the tattoos of the Slavs were - there are no Slavic burials in which the skin of the buried was preserved so well that tattoos could be seen on it.

Based on the well-known inclination of the Slavs to remain captive to mythological worldviews, it can be hypothetically argued that the history of the origin of the custom of tattooing among the ancestors of the Russians goes into the distant past. Literary sources and the surviving customs of the Russians proved that one of the main characters of epics, legends and other forms of culture of ancient Slavic folk art was a dragon. The Eastern Slavs preserved stories about how Perun, pursuing a snake (dragon), pierced him in one case with a spear, in another with lightning. Such a plot could be found both in wooden art and in bone carving (in Novgorod). Let us recall the image of the current coat of arms of Moscow returned from the past heritage - George the Victorious, piercing a dragon-serpent with a spear.

The pagan Slavs deeply believed in spirits, sorcerers, brownies, wood goblins, bathhouses, and similar fantastic creatures that, according to their ideas, lived in their neighborhood. Some they loved, others they feared. And all this, of course, was and continues to be reflected in their work. Object-shaped symbols of real and unreal creatures, animals and birds, which the ancient Slavs used in their folklore, fine art and decorative art, have become the favorite characters (heroes) of the plot and compositional solutions of skin painting among modern Russians.

The message of the Arab diplomat Ibn Fadlan is known that during his journey from Baghdad to the country of the Rus settled along the Volga River, he observed a tattoo from the nails of the hands to the neck of the locals - images of trees, animal figures and other signs and symbols. The listed set of tattoos was not accidental: the tree symbolized not only space, but also time. This is evidenced by the riddle that has come down to our time: "There is an oak, there are 12 branches on the oak, 4 nests on each branch, 7 chicks in the nest" - about a year, 12 months, 4 weeks, 7 days. The image of a tree was also present in conspiracies. According to the beliefs of the Slavs, the Mother of God, Paraskeva and other saints live on sacred trees (oak, apple, birch, sycamore, etc.). The tree in wedding ceremonies embodied the fertility of wildlife, the tree of life. The image of various animals served as amulets and amulets protecting the Slavs from evil spirits and sorcerers.

With the spread of Christianity, the custom of tattooing began to be ruthlessly eradicated, for it was considered by the church as an integral part of pagan rites. Perhaps the prohibition of tattooing was caused by the desire of Christian priests to protect the people from all kinds of false prophets, each of whom already then spoke about the end of the world and called himself the new Messiah. At the same time, when the tattoo contributed to the promotion of a religious cult, a specific religion, the church welcomed it in every possible way. For example, in Bosnia, among the Catholic peasant population, it was rare to find a woman or a girl without a tattoo depicting a cross on her forehead, on her chest and on the upper part of her forearm. It is impossible to deny the fact of tattooing among early Christians. It can be assumed that the first Christians applied the initials associated with the name of Christ (X or I.N. - Jesus of Nazareth), the image of a lamb, a cross or a fish.

Various nations have long practiced the custom of tattooing and applying various dyes on the face with the aim of perpetuating the pilgrimage to holy places. For example, from the fifteenth century there are reports of pilgrims about the perfect wanderings to Jerusalem. In particular, the German A. Bappenheim testifies that during his visit to Jaffa in 1563, he immortalized the sign of the cross on his hip. Another pilgrim, Slisanki, wrote in 1662 that he ordered in Bethlehem to gouge out on his shoulder the image of the holy tomb and the sign of the five holy crosses, as well as Mount Kavaria and Zion. He did this also because there was a belief: if the Turks captured the ship during a trip by sea, then, having seen the tattoo of the pilgrims, they would let it go. This custom lasted until the end of the 19th century, which is confirmed by the biographers' reference to George V (1865-1936), King of England, who, while still in his capacity as heir to the throne, visited Jerusalem in 1881, made a commemorative tattoo on his shoulder in the form of a star of Bethlehem . The Greek author Prisk tells about the "Scythians" who lived in the Northern Black Sea region and on the Danube in the 5th century. AD, who treated the ambassadors with honey and millet bread. It should be noted that the Scythians were defeated by the Goths as early as the 3rd century BC. BC, and honey and millet bread are a traditional dish among the Slavs, so Priscus most likely met not with the Scythians, who by that time did not exist, but with the Slavs. The same inaccuracy was made by Herodotus, who considered the Slavs to be the descendants of the Scythians. However, let us return to the modern descendants of the ancient Slavs. In the Russian hinterland, in the most remote rural areas of our homeland, to this day you can meet old people with a tattoo in the form of "checkers" - a chessboard, which they call "Morning". In their opinion, it means that the bright moments of life alternate with the dark ones. And sometimes the drawing is bizarre, and it is difficult to say what exactly its carriers wanted to depict. We can only guess what our ancestors wanted to express with this image, maybe it was an amulet or a sign of belonging to a certain community, which helped the ancestors find their dead soldiers on the battlefield.

There is no reason to doubt that the Slavs have used tattoos since ancient times for various ritual, religious, social, religious, ideological and personal purposes. The Slavic population also actively used the tattoo as a method of resisting initiation to a faith alien to them. What do you think about this issue?

Now you will not surprise anyone with a tattoo. Various symbols come in and out of fashion. Older people do not always feel good about tattoos and say that young people have deteriorated. However, this is not entirely true: history says that tattoos were made in Rus' long before the arrival of Christianity.

Today, it comes as a surprise to many that Slavic amulets are not modern fashion, but the legacy of our ancestors. For the ancient Slavs, the drawings on the body were not decorations, but real amulets that influenced fate. Pagan tattoos are back in fashion, which means you need to be aware of what they mean and who can do them.

Drawings on the skin were made long before the world was subject to science and progress. It is known that during the heyday of paganism on our planet, people also decorated their bodies with drawings. Not only our ancestors were engaged in this, but also other peoples - the ancient Greeks, Indians, Japanese.

Initially, only priests were allowed to make tattoos, but subsequently, applying patterns and drawings to the skin became available to everyone.

With the help of tattoos, Slavic priests spoke with the gods. By applying secret signs to their bodies, the Magi received the patronage of the gods and acquired sacred esoteric knowledge. Also wearable drawings protected from evil spirits.

Slavic warriors were the first to make tattoos after the Magi. Military art in those days was at a premium, because before almost all problems were solved by force. On whose side the numerical superiority of swords - he won. Therefore, the warriors began to decorate their bodies with Slavic amulets-tattoos.

According to the rules, only a mature person could fill a tattoo. In the understanding of the Slavs, this was a person who had reached the age of 33.

It was believed that ancient signs made them invisible on the battlefield, created a shield that repelled spears, gave men courage, dexterity and endurance. Over time, Slavic tattoos acquired another shade - more peaceful. They began to be used to heal from diseases, protect themselves from the evil eye and damage, and find their way in life.

The main symbols and plots of Slavic tattoos

Sources that can tell a complete and reliable history of tattoos in Rus' simply do not exist. And the information that the Slavic scholars have can no longer claim to be the true truth.

Now it is difficult to guess what was from it, and what the people composed. However, one thing is known for certain - drawings of a different nature were applied to the skin.

Among them were:

• patterns. Slavic ornament was widely used in everyday life - it was applied to clothes, dishes. He also appeared in body amulets (jewelry or tattoos). In a heap of circles, triangles, squares, rhombuses and all kinds of spirals, messages were encrypted - wishes of good luck, protection from evil spirits, a request for a good harvest.
• Animals and birds. The Slavs believed that some of the forest inhabitants were the earthly incarnation of the gods. According to one of the legends, Veles, the patron of travelers and merchants, knew how to turn into a bear (and also a wolf). Therefore, these creatures or they were applied to the skin in the form of a tattoo, so that they would protect their owner, bring him good luck. Images of the moose were also in use.
• Plants. Such symbols, as usual, were drawn in the form of patterns. An ignorant person at first sight will not understand that these are flowers. There were also tattoos in the form. For the Slavs, this was a special symbol, because they put family and traditions above all else, and the magic tree just personified the connection of generations.
• Swastika. The well-known dictator turned swastika symbols into Nazi symbols. On the flag of the Third Reich, a spinning antisun was depicted. Among the Slavs, the movement of the symbol in this direction meant the dark component of the world - witchcraft, death, night. But among the swastika symbols there were those that carry light.
• Gods. Among the most popular deities chosen for tattoos are Svarog and Yarilo. The list also includes Veles, Perun and Dazhdbog. The times then were so warlike, so the gods for tattoos were chosen appropriately.

Tattooing with Slavic gods must be taken seriously, because some deities are at enmity with each other, like Perun and Veles.

As protective jewelry, Slavic tattoos were divided into female and male:

Men's tattoo charms

Traditionally, men and boys used the same type of amulets. Most often, these were symbols that helped to educate character - to develop perseverance, fortitude, courage. But if jewelry was worn almost from childhood, then tattoos were made only by adults.

What were the Slavic tattoo amulets for men:

Almost all tattoos with protective symbols for men belonged to the martial art (or the ability to negotiate). Indeed, in the understanding of the Slavs, it was precisely this role that a man had to perform - to protect his wife and children, to continue the Family, to protect his land from invaders.

Women's tattoo amulets

In Slavic culture, a woman played the role of a coaster and a keeper of the hearth. Her concern was the household, raising children, protecting the family from dark forces and envious people. For this reason, for tattoos, women were chosen symbols that help to reveal femininity or become a real hostess, to discover psychic abilities in themselves.

Slavic amulets for women: the meaning of tattoos:

For women who decide to build a career, it is better to abandon the listed amulets - they will only harm. Lady experts recommend taking a closer look at male tattoos. They will help develop business acumen, temper character and train in diplomacy.

Slavic runes used in tattoo

Runic symbols are also found in catalogs with Slavic tattoos. Unfortunately, the meaning of the rune itself is not always given on the page with the image. Therefore, be careful, do not stuff the first sign you see - take an interest in its meaning from a person who understands this.

Why runes should be taken seriously:

• Each of the ancient Slavic symbols is endowed with its own meaning. Some runes protect, others give something good, others freeze the life stage, and so on.
• The value of a certain rune can change in tandem with other signs.
• Another important point - the rune can take on a completely opposite meaning if you apply a tattoo upside down. Therefore, make sure that the master does not accidentally turn the sign upside down.
• For the same reason, it is better not to put runic symbols on moving parts of the body (for example, forearms). In this case, the sign will constantly turn over.

What Slavic runic tattoo symbols can be chosen

• Rune Peace. A bright, positive rune that establishes a connection between man and the gods. Favors self-development, brings inspiration, fills with strength to achieve goals.
• Rune Wind. Another Slavic creative rune, but more powerful, assertive. Suitable for tattoos for those who are stuck at an unpleasant life stage and really want to change everything for the better.
• Rune Rainbow. The symbol tunes in to a wave of peace, brings stability to life, patronizes travelers.
• Rune of Krada. Like Wind, this is a very strong rune. Usually it is recommended to people for whom creativity is not just a hobby, but a matter of their whole life or earnings. Krada helps to bring your plans to life, fully revealing your potential.
• Rune Lelya. It belongs to the most harmonious runes, because its element is water. Symbolizes suppleness and changeability. Can be used when you need to get rid of stagnation.

We have listed the runes that are most often used by tattoo masters. But there are much more Slavic runes than five. Each of them carries a special energy and unique meaning. Having figured out what all the runic symbols are, you can choose the one that is perfect for you for a tattoo.

Slavic tattoo today: is it worth wearing?

Tattoos used to be something sacred, but these days their meaning has depreciated. Some people get tattoos, succumbing to the desire for change, others do it to demonstrate feelings to a loved one.

Such frivolity can turn into a problem. Mood and goals for the future change like partners, but tattoos remain. Removing them is painful, troublesome and expensive. But if you approach the drawing on the skin wisely, you can really change your life for the better.

A good choice would be Slavic tattoo symbols with ancient Slavic gods or their attributes. You can also fill Slavic runes, images based on mythology.

Do not be shy to make tattoos from the Slavic theme. There is nothing strange in this, because this is our culture..

When choosing a sketch, do not rush. Look through the catalog of Slavic tattoos given by the master, or come to him with a sketch found on the net. It would be nice not to immediately go to the salon, but to think over your decision for a while. Do you really want this particular tattoo? Does she suit your personality? How can it change your life?

Advice: For those who have finally chosen a pattern but aren't sure if it's compatible, there's an easy way to check. Get a temporary tattoo. If necessary, apply the symbol several times. During this period, you need to track how the tattoo affects your life. If you are comfortable with it and no misfortune has happened in your life at that moment, definitely this is your tattoo!

Approach the choice of a tattoo seriously so as not to make a mistake. The right symbol will become your protector and fill your life with positive.