There is something very striking about an Aztec tattoo.
It's bold line work, its symmetry, the spare use of colour, the striking images and use of animals in a two-dimensional format.
You will see many of these images adorned on bodies this summer. The beauty of them is that they lend themselves well to most parts of the body. They can be very intricate or less so, enabling the customer to go for different sizes in design. They can be filled with colour or left in stark dark colours.
It's worth knowing a little bit of history of the Aztecs and their tattoos before you make a decision on whether this is the tattoo for you.
The Aztecs were a tribe that lived between the 13th and 16th centuries in and around what is now Mexico. Religion played a big part of their life (as with most cultures back then).
They had specific reasons for their tattoos. They saw their ink as an important part of honouring their gods and their way of life. Tattoos were created for all kinds of ceremonies, rituals and sacrifices.
Many Aztec tattoo designs revolved around an image of the sun. The sun was a big deal to the Aztecs. They believe the sun god, Huitzilpochtili, was up there in the sky guarding the heavens, ready to take fallen Aztec warriors to the afterlife. Many tattoos were created in honour of him.
Another common symbol is the eagle. This represented power, courage and strength. Needless to say Aztec warriors were adorned with eagles to show their social standing in the tribe and many accomplishments.
A feathered serpent called Quetzalcoatl is known as being the god of weather, fertility and creativity Designs in this vein were often very important as they represented strong links to the Aztecs culture.
Aztecs were tattooed from a very young age to show their ascent through the ranks of the tribe. From children through to warrior status, their ink told the stories of their allegiances and accomplishments. If they were lucky enough to survive the harsh lifestyle and reach old age and "elder" status their bodies would tell the stories of their adventures.
This particular style of tattoo lends itself well to larger, bolder pieces of art. Smaller, individual designs can also be linked up very easily to created large sleeves or back pieces.
The bold thick line work and limited colour also means that the tattoo will age well over time.
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I've been a tattoo fan for 23 years and whilst I'm no expert, I have real life experiences of collecting this form of artwork.
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