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Russian Prison Tattoo - The Truth

Russian Prison Tattoos - The Brutal Truth

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Russian Prison Tattoos

Most people associate Russian Mafia Tattoos with David Cronenberg's award winning film "Eastern Promises" in which Viggo Mortensen portrayed an ex-con turned driver for a Russian Mafia Boss, who works his way up the chain of command only to find out there's even more corruption and deception than what he experienced within the prison walls.

His story merely skims the surface...

In reality, the history behind Russia's criminal underground was spawned from a generation of men who, due to the economical collapse of the Soviet Union, were left with nothing - turning to crime for a means of survival. As communism fell and the safety net was removed, many of the desperate ended up in Russian prison camp system, also known as the Soviet gulag, which to this day is known as one of the most infamous and hellish prison systems in history. It was within these camps that a new breed of professional criminal was born. A criminal network based on discipline, tradition and more importantly, rank.

Russian Mafia Tattoos are more than a statement...

As these networks of seasoned Russian criminals began to establish themselves from both sides of the prison walls, they would tattoo religious and neo-nazi symbols all over their bodies as a form of recognition amongst their fellow peers, but also as a means of living with their sins. It was not unheard of for Russian Mafia Tattoos to be forcefully inked on an individual whom was deemed to be untrustworthy, or an individual who was a child molester or rapist - which went against the strong religious undertones of that time.

Common symbols and their meanings...

To the naked eye most of these tattoos represent religious imagery, such as cathedrals or monasteries, but as the Russian Mafia began to migrate to New York, Philadelphia, and Florida between the 1970's and 1990's, the American authorities and secret services began to decipher the code which lies beneath these markings of worship. They realized that not only was there a system behind Russian Mafia Tattoos, but these criminals would literally use these symbols as a business card to whom the other was, and more importantly, what sins they've committed.

Cathedral or Church - Depending on the number of towers a particular tattoo has, it usually refers to the number of years, or amount of times that individual has been incarcerated.

Cobweb - Usually designated for someone who has committed murder.

Cat or Cats - If there is a tattoo of a single cat, this means that the individual was a thief before being imprisoned. If there are multiple cats this means that the individual was part of a gang of thieves.

Stars - This seems to be the most recognized tattoo in the mainstream media. If the owner has stars on each of his knees, this mean's he will never bow down or never be brought to his knees. Stars on the shoulders are usually awarded when a particular individual has reached a criminal status or high ranking within the network - such as a Captain. Different types of stars mean different things as well.

What's even more frightening, and sad, is that in modern day Russia it is estimated that 70% of the upper echelon of society, politics and law enforcement is controlled by the Russian Mafia families and criminal networks. It is said that the same percentage of banks are also ran by the mob in Russia. The fall of communism turned a once powerful and formidable competitor into a country so corrupt that it's highest offices are products of crime. It's common amongst society for people to associate criminal organizations with the Italian Mafia, but the reality is that if you ask anyone who knows anything on this topic they will tell you that compared to the Russian Mafia, Italian crime families are like pre-school - there is no comparison.

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famous tribal tattoos design

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery 1

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery 2

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery 3

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery 4

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery 5

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery 6

Amazing Art of Side Body Japanese Tattoo Ideas With Koi Fish Tattoo Designs With Image Side Body Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos For Female Tattoo Gallery 7

hawaiian tribal tattoos

Hawaiian Tribal Tattoos are fast becoming one of the most popular tattoos on the market. These tattoos go back many years and stand for many different things. There are some things that you should know about these type of tattoos though before you make a purchase.



First always make sure you know the meaning of the tattoo is that you are getting. Nothing like having a tattoo done especially an Hawaiian one and you do not know the meaning.



Second make sure you have someone do the tattoo that does about the culture of Hawaiian Tribal tattoos. many times you may want to change a part of the design and if you do you could end up offending the culture by even a subtle change.

hawaiian tribal tattoos

Third get a tattoo artist that you can trust and make sure they know the culture as well. Do not get something you do not want. If you do get an Hawaiian tattoo you will be in a growing list of people who value these tattoos for their beauty and what they stand for.

History of Tribal

Tribal is the name that comes given to that category of tattoos that has asserted beginning from first years ninety and that it is based on the traditional tattoos of the aborigines of the several islands of the Pacific (Samoa, Islands Marquises, Hawaii), of the Dayak of Borneo, the Maori of New Zealand and from the Native Americans.

The Tribal style is characterized from separated designs, formed from lines from silhouette the much marked one, of usual filled up totally of black. Often the designs come carried out in such way to emphasize the natural lines of the body and the musculature. Equally it is diffused l' I use of lines many intricate and with geometric designs repeated that they represent the reinterpretazione of flora and fauna or natural elements, especially fire, air and water. The Tribal tattoos is expression of the spiritualità and the culture of many cultures.

maori tribal tattoos

Maori Tribal Tattoos history, the Maori tribes are natives of New Zealand. Though, they are part of the Polynesian heritage, they have given themselves a distinct cultural heritage that historians have separated them from the different tribes of Polynesia.

It is very much the same for their tattoo designs. The Maori tribal tattoos have their own unique identity compared to their Polynesian counterparts. Their spirals and curved shapes form a very intricate pattern that very distinctive to the Maori tribes. Legend said that a young warrior learned the art of the Maori tribal tattoos from the lord of the underworld, after winning back the heart of the lord's daughter.

For the Maori tribe, the tattoos are part of special rituals celebrating a particular or special event in one tribesman's life. A tribesman would receive his or her first tattoo as a rite of passage from childhood to adolescent and would be added whenever there are significant events in his or her life that would need to be celebrated. A tribesman that would be awarded with a tattoo would go into fasting before he or she was given a tattoo.

Both men and women of the tribe can be awarded with a tattoo as a show of courage, strength and would be given a specific status in the tribe. The tattoos for men in particular would cover the whole face while the women would only cover the cheeks and the lips, though sometimes the tattoos for women would cover the neck as well.