been away too long

[furrycelt]

thanks everyone for all the "welcome back"s. this is indeed the best online forum.

[Arlen]

the top one means "conquer" and the bottom one means "death";

First off, a big welcome from Glasgow, Scotland.
Let me also say your tattoo is beautiful and very well done.
I've done a lot of in-depth studies of Pictish art and culture and the unfortunate thing is that not a single person can say what any of the Pictish symbols mean. I have a good few Pictish tattoos myself, but the theory that most scholars agree on is that the Pictish symbols were likely family 'Markers'. Designs used to symbolize clans and districts.
The bottom one in that cross tends to be known as the 'Crescent and V-rod' and is usually shown on it's side. A lot of people theorise that is show's the emergence of the warrior from the womb. Others that it shows how Picts worshipped a moon goddess.
The fact is that they didn't leave any writings or explanations and we're lost.

[furrycelt]

First off, a big welcome from Glasgow, Scotland.
Let me also say your tattoo is beautiful and very well done.
I've done a lot of in-depth studies of Pictish art and culture and the unfortunate thing is that not a single person can say what any of the Pictish symbols mean. I have a good few Pictish tattoos myself, but the theory that most scholars agree on is that the Pictish symbols were likely family 'Markers'. Designs used to symbolize clans and districts.
The bottom one in that cross tends to be known as the 'Crescent and V-rod' and is usually shown on it's side. A lot of people theorise that is show's the emergence of the warrior from the womb. Others that it shows how Picts worshipped a moon goddess.
The fact is that they didn't leave any writings or explanations and we're lost.

AACHHK! bugger! pop my balloon!!! grrrr!!!

.... {sigh} .... i concede ...

he's right. no one really knows for sure what any of the Pictish symbols mean.

i did months of research before going under the needle. since tattoos are so permanent and so personal, i wanted to know everything i possibly could about what i was going to wear forever.

what i was able to put together is that while no one knows anything for sure. there is a general consensus as to their meanings. and that is what i was going on with my tattoo. at the very least it is a copy of a find from scotland. and it is a Christian cross. so it does the job of displaying my heritage and beliefs.

[mudd]

and it is a Christian cross.

Actually, it's a Celtic cross, and I believe it pre-dates Christianity.

Oh, and, welcome back.

[Doc]

Welcome back from yet another newer guy.

[Arlen]

It does the job of displaying my heritage and beliefs.

Hey, as long as the tattoo itself means a lot to you I'm willing to concede that's all that matters. And it is a bloody good tattoo.