Phoenix Tattoo

by Jason
(Chambersburg PA)

The phoenix tattoo represents rebirth and second chances and I can dig that.

From the Webmaster

Jason, we could all use second chances which probably is the reason that the phoenix tat is so popular. To know significance and meaning, here's the story.

The phoenix is said to live for 500 years. When it grows tired, it builds a nest of aromatic twigs, and then sets fire to itself to be consumed in the self made funeral pyre. After three days, the phoenix would rise from the ashes, reborn.

According to Egyptian legend, it carries a container of it ashes from its previous incarnation to Heliopolis, the city of the sun. The Egyptian phoenix was said to sing sweetly, and to dazzle with its plumage of gold and scarlet and purple which is probably why most phoenix tattoos are very colorful.


Stories of the phoenix appear in ancient Arabian, Greek, Roman, and Far Eastern mythology. In both Greek and Egyptian tales, the phoenix represented the sun, going down in flames at the end of the day and rising each morning.

Early Christians viewed the flight of the phoenix as a symbol of rebirth and the resurrection, leaving the old world behind in exchange for the spiritual new world, dying and rising again, reborn.

The phoenix symbolized their victory of life over death, immortality through Christ's resurrection.

Jewish legend tells of the phoenix as the one creature that did not leave garden of paradise with Adam, and that its legendary longevity is due to resisting the temptation of the forbidden fruit that tempted the 'first man and woman'. Featured on Roman coinage, the image of the phoenix represented an undying empire.

In Chinese mythology, the phoenix is the symbol of grace and virtue and ranks second only in importance to the Dragon. It represents the union of yin and yang and was said to be a gentle creature associated with the Empress of China, who alone was allowed to wear this symbol. The feathers of the Chinese phoenix were white, black, red, green and yellow which includes all of the five primary colors.

It's common to see the phoenix carved into sword hilts as well as in the elaborate embroidery on kimonos. The phoenix is one of the emblems of the Japanese Empire in addition to the rising sun. In the Japanese culture the phoenix tattoo is often combined with images off the dragon, symbolizing yin and yang, the harmonious joining of the best of female and male virtues.

After reading all of these me up and vote for you might think that Phoenix, Arizona got its name from having risen from the ashes of some former town, and you would be correct because Phoenix was indeed rebuilt from the remains of Hohokam Indian settlements.

And speaking of the Indians, the North American Indians have their own mythological version of the phoenix, the thunderbird, who is said to flash lightning from its beak.

The phoenix tattoo can be inked in several ways, some more masculine than others. While being very strong and manly, the symbol is often designed with a focus on graceful feminine qualities with each part of the bird's body representing a feminine virtueincluding duty, goodness, kindness and reliability. The flames that sometimes surround phoenix tattoos symbolized purification and transformation through fire and adversity.

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