I would like to talk about one of the tattoo designs that we most identify as a symbol of peace or victory, olive branch tattoos. And it is that, I am sure, that the vast majority of people, when they admire an olive branch alone or carried by a dove, we quickly associate it with these two facts: obtaining victory or peace.
Therefore, in this article we will delve into the meaning of olive branch tattoos. In addition, we will give you a lot of ideas so that your olive branch tattoos are as original and cool as possible.
The meaning of olive trees
The meaning of olive trees is as rich as the Mediterranean culture from which it comes and, moreover, it is strongly rooted in Greece, as we will see below.
Olive trees in ancient Greece
In many cultures the olive tree, as a tree, has numerous important roles. And it is that it is a species that is capable of living more than a hundred years. On the other hand, and if we delve further into ancient cultures, we see that in ancient Greece the olive tree was considered a sacred tree. As we have said before, it symbolized victory, although it was also associated with honor.
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For the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena, according to the legends, gave men olive branches when they achieved important victories on the battlefield or in other areas.
If you notice, in this case the meaning of the olive tree is very geographically delimited to the Mediterranean (already ancient Greece), since it is a tree whose origin is precisely on the shores of this sea (although it can also be found in certain places in Asia and Africa). That is why many legends about its symbolism are related to this part of the world.
For example, another legend claims that thousands of years ago, a lot of olives fell into the waters of the Mediterranean. Later, they floated to the Greek shores, where they were discovered and eaten. And they liked them so much that even today they are considered a delicacy. This is probably why they are considered trees related to good luck and wealth.
Also in Greece there is talk of an ancient custom, to plant an olive tree when a child is born, as a reminder of life: the olive tree will end up surpassing the child in height and living much longer.
The olive tree as a symbol of peace
However, the olive branch if it is well known today is because we consider it a symbol of peace.
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Surely the original legend of this universal symbol sounds familiar to you: in the Bible, after the universal flood, Noah releases a dove to search for land. The dove, after many days, returns to the ark with an olive branch in its beak. Thus, the olive tree not only transmits peace, but also hope.
Olive branch tattoo ideas
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As a tattoo design, the olive branch is quite interesting. And, depending on how it is tattooed, we find an element of a minimalist and elegant character. You just have to take a look at the olive branch tattoo gallery below to see some proposals of this nature. A small, fine and elegant olive branch looks great on almost any area of the body.
Then we will give you a few ideas that we hope you also find interesting.
Olive branch with diamond and crown
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Before we said that the olive branches were used as a symbol of the victory that Athena gave (in a similar way to laurel wreaths). In this layout, the tattoo is inspired by this symbol and reinforces it with a diamond and a crown (this time more classic). Strong lines reinforce a traditional style that looks great on you.
Olive tree on the side
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Not only can we be inspired by the olive branch for our tattoo, the whole tree is also an option that can be very cool. Because of the shape, it looks especially good on the side. It reinforces the appearance of the olive tree with the characteristic green color of its leaves and its trunk and gnarled branches.
Victory crown
Victory crowns are undoubtedly one of the star designs when choosing between olive branch tattoos. In addition to having a very clear meaning, they look great in many different styles, from the most traditional, combined with other elements ... In this case, a simple design has been chosen and the fruits of the olive tree have been added to make it recognizable at first glance. sight.
Keep in mind that although there are quite a few different types of olives, including green ones, in a tattoo purple or black are better to give a little contrast to the color.
Olive twigs combined
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Olive branch tattoos can consist of a single piece, but by size it is also very good to accompany it with other designs. In this case, the branches of this tree are one more element of accompaniment that appears behind the main design, some fir trees.
Dove with twig
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The symbol of peace par excellence. We have already discussed its meaning. What tattoo, it works very well on highly detailed and realistic designs as well as on more abstract ones (for example, with a touch of watercolor), as well as on simpler ones, in black and white. Without a doubt it is a most universal design.
Olive tree and dove tattoo
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If you want to combine two very powerful symbols, go for a design that combines the olive tree and the dove. It is important that the olive tree is a tree with a gnarled and twisted trunk, one of its main characteristics, and that the dove is white (or that it is simply outlined if it is in black and white). If you want to reinforce the idea of peace, you can put a twig in its beak.
Realistic olive branch tattoo
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A great inspiration to get an olive branch tattoo with a realistic touch is to be inspired by old illustrations from nature books like this one. Notice how the leaves appear as faint and in the different shapes of the different varieties. It is a perfect way to represent the hot climate of the Mediterranean by showing one of its most typical trees.
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We hope that this article with the meaning of olive branch tattoos, along with some ideas to make your design unique, you liked and interested you. Tell us, do you have a tattoo that has this tree as the main character? What meaning do you like? Do you think we have failed to mention any? Remember that you can leave us a comment!
