Tribal Tattoo Designs - Armband Tribal Tattoo Designs

Armband Tribal tattoo designs, also known as “Polynesian” designs, originate from pre-colonial tribes in the island groups of  Polynesia. You have most likely seen a Armband tribal tattoo design even if you didn't know it, because they are one of the most popular tattoo designs today. 

Armband Ttibal tattoo designs have a distinct pattern of lines, dots, curves. They also showcase images such as animal symbols and mask.

Archaeologists have discovered that many ancient tribes such as the Polynesian's are linked to the tattoo arts. They not only used tattoos to an expression of themselves, but also for spiritual, social, and medicinal functions.

The word tattoo even descended from the Polynesian word “tautau”. “Ta” means hand and “tata” is referring to continuous action. The lastly the “u” means color.

Polynesian tribal tattoo designs come in two very distinct styles. One of the styles is called Etua. The Etua style has very strong spiritual and religious symbolism to them. This design offered the wearer protection from evil and also from the Gods themselves. The other style is called Enata. The Enata style represented the identity and status of the wearer. This included their social status among the tribe, their birthplace and origin, and there occupation and history.

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Reasons that Polynesian people had tattoos where

• Tattoos where symbols of courage. The original process of tattooing ones skin involved a lot of pain and perseverance
• Tattoos added to a mans sex appeal
• Getting a tattoo was rites to passage for many tribes. It represented the transition from a child to man
• Tattoos showcased a persons rank and social status
• They believed tattoos would ward of evil spirits

Armband tribal tattoo designs have always fascinated people. They are always beautifully designed, intricate, impressive, and deeply rooted in ancient tradition. They often have symbols with different meanings in them. Some of the symbols with their meanings are as follows:

• Turtles – Represents a long life and fertility
• Sharks – Sharks are sacred to many tribes and a tattoo of a shark is used as a symbol of protection from threats
• Shark teeth – Also used as a symbol of protection
• Tiki – Tiki is a god who is often showed with his eyes closed. Tiki is known to be able to see trouble before it arrives
• Shells – Shells represent prosperity to many tribes
• Gecko – The Polynesian people believed that the gecko has the powers of nature and are feared and respected by the Polynesian's. A green gecko laughing is believed to be a sign of bad luck.

As you can see Tattoos where of vast important in the culture of the Polynesian tribes. Today the majority of people get tattoos to express themselves or to simply have a beautiful piece of art on themselves.

To the Polynesian tribes tattoos told their life stories, they displayed their social status and rank, and protected them from evil spirits. 

This is page 1 of 2 of our Tribal tattoo designs article. The following page you will learn more about the ancient tribes and their tattoos: Other Cool Tribal Tattoos (page 2)