Rose Tattoos - A Meaning In Every Petal

[matt phillips]

Roses have always been associated with love and death. The ancient
Greeks believed that the first rose was created when Chloris, the
goddess of flowers, came upon a dying wood nymph and transformed her
into a flower. Then the goddess of love, Aphrodite, gave the flower
its beauty, and the god of wine, Dionysus, contributed an intoxicating
fragrance. Beauty, love, intoxication, and death, all in one package;
add thorns for a hint of sorrow and danger, and you have the perfect
symbol of the human condition
So is it any wonder that the rose tattoo has, for both men and women,
become one of the most widely requested of all tattoo designs? Not
only is the rose loaded with symbolic meaning; its can be represented
as anything from a single small bud or open bloom, or as a garland or
bouquet of blossoms, and with or without thorns. It can have flowing
ribbons with names of loved ones, tattooed in remembrance or as a
pledge of eternal devotion.
One ancient Roman legend is that the god of silence, Harpocrates,
happened to witness Venus, the goddess of love, engaging in an illicit
sexual encounter. Venus' son Cupid, the god of love, bribed
Harpocrates with a rose to guarantee his silence. The Romans took
their myths seriously, and the ceilings of Roman banquet rooms were
festooned with roses as a reminder to those reclining at the tables.
What was revealed from wine-loosened lips of wine was heard "sub
rosa," and would remain confidential.
A rose tattoo positioned in a very private place and known only to a
lover can honor the tradition of the rose as a symbol of secrecy. But
rose tattoos can also be worn visibly and proudly, as most men wear
them, on the arm.
Even the color of a rose tattoo can add layers to its meaning; the
Victorians actually had a "language" of flowers and by sending
different varieties of blooms in different colors to those they
admired could communicate symbolically all the romantic feelings their
conventions would no let them say in person. Rose tattoos, alone or
combined with other flowers, can communicate a very private message in
a very public way.
While the most requested color for rose tattoos is red, signifying
love, romance, courage, and beauty, the blue rose tattoo is gaining in
popularity, and has an intriguing history. There are no naturally blue
roses, and although research is ongoing to create one, the blue rose
tattoo represents mystery and the quest to achieve the impossible.
Some legends suggest that the blue rose can magically grant wishes or
restore youth.
Rose tattoos, like the actual flowers, can beckon and entice, or hint
of danger. Rose tattoos can suggest purity and innocence, or unbridled
passion. Rose tattoos can be worn in remembrance of loved ones who
have moved on or as pledges of undying love through all the years
ahead.
A rose tattoo, in other words, can speak volumes about you, and all
you need to do is tell your tattoo artist what you want yours to say!
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