Bee Tattoos
Believe it or not, bee tattoos are some of the most popular insect tattoos that are requested today. Bee tattoo designs will showcase this insect individually, or on occasion, in large swarms. Though there is some debate over the symbolism behind the bee tattoo, most scholars can agree on a few basics. The modern consensus is that they represent the desire for an ordered life, respect for social order and diligence. But this hasn’t been the accepted meaning for this design for most of its history.
During the Middle Ages, bees were often associated with the military and seen as a symbol of war, peace and protection. That is why in many family’s coat of arms the bee is a central figure. Most of the bee tattoos that you see nowadays are either done in a cute cartoony way or done in an exaggerated facsimile of the original insect. You rarely see one done in a naturalistic way. A lot of these feature the insect with a fuzzy, mult-colored body and very large eyes. They are usually inked in shades of red, black and yellow, but some people opt to color their bees in shades of topaz or even light pink. |
