What’s The Meaning of Camel Tattoo?
Animal tattoos have been in the industry for a long time. With their lively features and colors, animal tattoos express the innermost ideas of a person’s psyche. One of the most famous animal tattoo designs is the camel. A vast majority of people pick the camel as their primary tattoo design within a heartbeat.
But you might wonder, what is the meaning behind a camel tattoo?
Camel tattoos are used to express a number of ideas. They are mostly associated with the idea of strength, adaptability, endurance, and courage. Due to their constant traveling, camels are also associated with traveling and transition. Camels also represent the idea of peace and wisdom due to their gentle and intelligent nature. The symbolism also changes based on different cultural contexts.
In this article, we’ll cover different meanings that are often associated with the camel tattoo. We will also discuss different cultural interpretations, while also keeping a section dedicated to the size, color, and placement of the tattoo. Without further ado, Let’s get on to it.
The History of a Camel Tattoo
The camel tattoo has always been seen as a symbol of strength, traveling, change, endurance, peace, and wisdom.
The camel has always been seen as a symbol of the ‘orient’ or the ‘exotic.’ In the middle ages, Many Europeans were oblivious to this exotic desert animal.
The Europeans first encountered them during their contact with Middle-Eastern powers such as Ancient Egypt, Syria, or The Arabian Peninsula. The camels were immediately associated with middle-eastern cultures and this idea still persists.
Strength
The camel has always been seen as a powerful animal. It can carry very heavy loads on its back without losing a wink of sleep. This makes the camel a symbol of strength.
Their strength is proven by their tireless journey and how they carry it for a long period of time tirelessly. People get the camel tattoo to commemorate a particular journey (some strong emotional event or physical distress) that they had to endure.
Adaptability
The camel is known to be a very adaptable animal. They can survive in dry and arid deserts effortlessly. They can survive with minimal water and food. Plus, camels are known to conserve water if needed. They can also protect themselves from deadly sandstorms due to their body structure.
These reasons have made the camel a popular symbol of adaptability and survival. The tattoos are embraced by people who consider themselves to be highly adaptable. Some people get this tattoo done to symbolize their own survival instincts or a harrowing journey that they survived.
Traveling
Camels have been used as cargo-animal since ancient times. They are one of the few living things that can naturally survive in the hot and dry desert. They can travel the sandy dunes for hundreds of miles without getting tired.
For this reason, camels have always been associated with the idea of traveling.
Camel tattoos symbolize the love for traveling. Their long and tiring journey makes them a prime symbol to express one’s tiring journey through life.
The Camel can also be associated with the idea of adventures. The adventurous and difficult journey of the camels can stir up that dormant thrill-seeking daredevil in your heart. People who have traveled through the desert or planning to travel, prefer this tattoo to commemorate their own journey.
Courage and Endurance
Camels have a lot of courage and endurance as they travel the deadly desert nonchalantly. The animal is naturally designed for this task as they endure the scorching heat and sun.
For this reason, the camel has always been associated with the idea of courage and endurance. Many stories exist to support this idea. People who want to express their courageous and enduring nature, pick this tattoo as their primary choice.
Change and Transition
The Travel one takes to a new destination symbolizes change and transition. The camel travels long distances for food and habitat.
They are always seeking new destinations to explore and make a home. The bedouin or the desert people also use the camels to find a new place to set up their tents. For them, the camel represents a vehicle that can take them to a new place among the vast sea of sand.
Life is like that too. We are presented with a catastrophic number of choices and options.
Peace
Camels are popularly dubbed as ‘Gentle giants. Camels are very big and powerful creatures but they also have a caring nature. For them, their owner is their family and they will travel a long distance for their masters as proof of their loyalty
They are gentle and friendly with their owner and other humans. Even in the wild, they are peaceful creatures who have a strong sense of herd.
Their gentle and caring nature has made the camel a popular symbol of peace and gentleness. The harmonious and caring relationship between a large number of camels makes the camel a symbol of peace and harmony. A symbol of gentleness which we need in this society.
Wisdom
A whole number of people get surprised when they learn that the camel is a very intelligent animal. Camels can be trained very easily as they learn commands very quickly.
After their training, camels become obedient and can their owners by providing much-needed assistance. They are hardworking animals who are good navigators and survive perilous journeys.
The tattoo of the camel represents one’s own desire to be wise and intelligent. Their resilient lifestyle represents the challenges one must face to become wise. They also symbolize one’s own very yearning for learning.
Different Cultural Interpretations of Camel Tattoo
A tattoo is a piece of art and art is interpreted differently in different cultures. People derive the meaning behind a symbol or a sign based on their cultural upbringing, myths, and stories rooted deeply in their culture.
Christianity
The Christians have a special place in their religion for the camel. The camel represents a famous miracle done by Jesus Christ. It is said that during Jesus Christ’s final days on Earth, many people came to see him.
Jesus knew not everyone was able to come by foot so he miraculously brought a huge number of camels out of thin air and made the animals kneel to allow travel.
This story is of great religious importance to Christians. People get tattoos to commemorate this miracle and to represent their religious zeal.
Judaism
Judaism is one religion that puts great emphasis on trade and offers great respect to merchants. As merchants use to travel extensively, they had special divine permission to consume camel meat. It was considered healthy for camels to travel a lot in heat and sun.
It is also said that Abraham had a pet camel which was dear to him more than his family. In Judaism, the camel is seen as an animal that was a favorite to a prophet while also representing the idea of survival.
China
In China, Camels were used in remote areas to exchange resources and to keep commerce alive.
For this reason, Camels were treated with respect and had an important place in Chinese culture. The Chinese see the camel as a traveler who goes through great peril to ensure the survival of the mass people.
They also represent the good state of commerce or a certain degree of affluence.
India
Camels have been used as the primary mode of transportation in the Indian desert states of Rajasthan and Gujrat for centuries.
The camels are seen as survivors and greatly lauded for their perseverance. The Indian culture also sees the camel as a symbol of fighting spirit as the famed Rajput warriors roamed the Indian deserts like the camel to provide protection to their kingdoms.
Buddhism And Hinduism
The Dharmic faiths, Buddhism and Hinduism have the same interpretation of a camel symbol. For them, the camel symbolizes the idea of willingness to do what it takes to succeed.
Even though you are spent and tired, you cannot fail or stop. The animal is a symbol of patience and dedication as it dares to take the Herculean task of desert traveling.
The camel symbol reminds us to work hard for things we truly believe in or care about it because good things come later in life.
The Size and The Placement of A Camel Tattoo
As we have stated before, camel tattoos have a strong affinity to the idea of traveling and are often preferred by people who are explorers or adventurous. For this reason, most camel tattoos can be seen on people’s arms and legs.
Some also prefer the smaller version of this tattoo on their neck or back to represent the idea of perseverance and patience.
Most camel tattoos have a small size to them. But, the size depends on you. As placement changes, the size also changes. If you get a tattoo on your arm or neck, get a smaller one. Get a bigger one if you get the tattoo on your back.
Also, the color of the tattoo also depends on you. The most popular color palate for this type of design is black. Camels live in dirt and hot weather and black properly represents this. You can also get it in multiple colors if you want.
Last Few Words
Next time when someone asks you the meaning behind a camel tattoo, be sure to surprise them with your detailed ideas.
Camel tattoos are used to convey a variety of messages. They are frequently connected with the concepts of strength, adaptability, endurance, and bravery. Camel is also associated with travel and transition due to its constant Travelling.
Because of their gentle and intellectual character, Camels also embody the concepts of peace and knowledge.
