Anchor - the ancient image which was applied to the body by seamen. The symbolics has remained up to now and is quite popular in salons of tattoo though it often bears in itself only esthetic loading.
Tattoo in the form of anchor – very old image having the symbolics connected with sea open spaces. The person who pinned on himself this picture, as a rule, belonged to layer of society, devoted himself to service at the sea. It were seamen with various military status: ordinary employees by the ship, privates, officers and the highest ranks, up to representatives of administrative top.
Anchor – amulet
The picture in the form of anchor was considered among the seaman as peculiar amulet which helped them not to go astray. Besides, he said that the seaman – the professional of the business, is able not only to resist to natural powers, but also wins against them. The image of anchor protected the owner in the most difficult life situations, helped out of trouble.
Such tattoo still is of particular importance for those who are connected with the sea. Its thousand-year history hides in itself a lot of importance: commitment to sea traditions, the special relation to life, freedom of spirit and firmness before enemies. There is opinion that for the first time to put tattoo in the form of anchor the western seamen have begun to put. Thereby they showed belief in the magic force of anchor as charm. The major symbolical importances are simple and clear to everyone – devotion, fidelity, reliability, care.
Value of anchor on body
There are also more specific interpretations of symbolics of anchor. So, drawn on leg or hand, it plays role of the mascot promoting return home or to successful swimming on sea elements. The tattoo in the form of anchor is often put by seamen, but often she can be met also on human body, not connected with salty water in any way. In this case, the sign designates dream of the sea, love for it. But there is also it that the anchor means nothing at all when it is put just like that. Such cases are rare. Many seamen pin the image of anchor when they manage to cross the Atlantic Ocean on own body, noting such original way certain milestone in the life.
Communication of anchor with Christianity
Some researchers connect tradition of drawing the drawing of anchor on body with Christianity, saying that the anchor is symbolical interpretation of cross. Exactly from here development of the theory of communication of anchor and cross begins. Schematically the anchor is reminded by cross, its especially upper part, and somewhat hints at secret signs about which they know only devoted. It is remarkable that in the New Testament the hope for rescue is called soul anchor.