Fleur de lis tattoo (Source).
The fleur de lis tattoos they are a very popular option, especially when tattoos started to become popularback in the nineties (do you remember that episode of Friends in which Phoebe wants to become one?).
Although at first glance the flower tattoos de lis are related to royalty and medieval Europe, this symbol hides many more meanings that we will see in this post.
Fleur de lis tattoos, a symbol old as time
Fleur-de-lis tattoo on the arm (Source).
Fleur-de-lis tattoos are inspired by a symbol that was already represented in ancient Egyptian and Indian times, probably to represent the flowers of that part of the world, which have three petals that grow upwards and another three downwards.
It was not until the Middle Ages that the symbol gained popularity among wealthy families in France. The fleur de lis is said to represent the Christian trinity or the Virgin (who is often depicted with a lily). Legend has it that God made this symbol appear on his shield to Clovis, a descendant of Charlemagne, the first king to bring together all the Frankish kingdoms.
A symbol not always positive
Large lily flower tattoo (Source).
Although at first glance the fleur-de-lis tattoos seem to only refer to the nobility of French families from the Middle Ages, the fleur de lis is also related to other non-positive meanings.
For example, In the thirteenth century, it was a symbol widely used by certain French families who were dedicated to the slave trade and that they even marked the slaves who had escaped, and those who had been recaptured, with this symbol.
Small fleur de lis tattoo (Source).
Fleur-de-lis tattoos are very cool and have a great symbolic tradition, although, unfortunately, it is not always positive. That is why we must take special care when making certain designs. And you, what do you think about these tattoos? Do you have any? Remember that you can tell us what you want in the comments!