Because it is one of the earliest forms of sustenance known to us, life from the sea has been an integral part of human history. Our love affair with fish has evolutionary origins. Numerous anthropologists believe that the incorporation of fish into the human diet, with its high omega fatty acid content (which fuels brain development), was one of the main driving forces for our evolution. However, nowadays, fish has become more than just a mainstay on our dinner plates. In various cultures across the globe, they are expressions of our spirituality.
History and Mythology
When Christianity was still at its beginning, being identified as a follower of the faith ensured people a meeting with the death squad. Many Christians lived in fear of persecution. As such, they were finding a way to identify friends from foes was a tricky endeavor. Representing Jesus’ link with the Sea of Galilee, the fish (more specifically, the Ichthys or Jesus Fish) became a means to safely show one’s association with the religion while remaining under the radar. Christ was a ‘fisher of men,’ and it’s no coincidence that one of Jesus’ most famous miracles is the feeding on the multitude with five loaves and two fishes.
The natural element, water, is considered by many to be a representation of our emotions and subconscious mind. As such, those animals that live in or near it are usually seen as expressions of our mental state, and there are several sea animals that are known as symbols of the subconscious. This philosophy is considered truthful in Asian cultures, where the sea dominates numerous aspects of local religions and traditions.
Numerous African and East Indian traditions, consider the fish as a symbol of creation, transformation, and fertility. The Hindu god, Vishnu, by transformed into a fish (Matsya), saved the world from a horrific flood. Fish are also symbols of abundance. The Babylonians and Sumerians revered Enki, a creation deity, while the ancient Egyptians viewed the starfish as a symbol of renewal and healing. There are some parts of China where newlyweds are given gifts of fish as a token of prosperity and to bestow blessings on them in the hopes that they’ll have lots of children.
Marine animals are also considered to be keepers of ancient knowledge. In Irish mythology, an ordinary salmon gained incredible insight into the world around it after it ate hazelnuts that fell into the Well of Wisdom, thus transforming it into the salmon of knowledge. It was eventually caught by a great wizard who wanted to gain all the experience in the world by eating the salmon. But the knowledge locked within the salmon was inadvertently given to the wizard’s servant boy, Fionn, who then spent the rest of his life using his newfound wisdom to help others. The ancient Celts did not realize that fish like salmon are actually rich in the Omega fatty acids needed for brain development.
No matter whether you are on the quest for knowledge or the path of prosperity, fish tattoos are great ways to express the complicated and multifaceted side of your persona. Every fish that exist can make a perfect tattoo design with a unique meaning behind it. That is also the case with the tattoo design of a trout.
Trout tattoo
The trout owns a symbolic significance as a Celtic figure of knowledge and power, and even a Celtic goddess known as Ban Naomha, who swam in the sacred well of the sun, could answer questions with her gift of second sight. In the world of tattoos, though, the trout is necessarily representative of a favorite pastime, sport fishing. Shown in the various colors of the different species (such as the golden or rainbow trout) and often accompanied by water, there is sometimes also a lure or fishing line in the scene.
Of all the seafaring steelheads that exist, the trout dominates in its ability to camouflage no matter how rugged the environment. This unique ability makes the trout king of every current. A tattoo of a trout is a perfect choice to embrace your love of adventure.
In addition to its maritime glory, the trout offers a myriad of opportunities to personalize your body art. With dozens of species of trout eagerly extent, you can choose a tattoo design genuinely reflective of this nautical wonder. From resplendent rainbow trout to sublime spotted sea-trout, the fish design takes body art from the point of interest to representation of the true inner artist.
Not only that, the trout possesses natural resiliency and external glory, but also offers a distinguished history of symbolism that is beyond its marine origins. Recognized as the harbingers of good fortune and financial success, these fish are also symbolic of redemption and leadership in many spiritual traditions. Whether you are a fisher or destined for economic prosperity, demonstrate this power with a triumphant trout tattoo. The tattoo of a trout can symbolize other things. Because it is tough to catch a trout, this tattoo can represent capriciousness and inconstancy, and great care and rarity. Moreover, the tattoo with trout has the ability to attract its owner good luck, financial stability, and give careful and divine wisdom.