Rhinos are the second largest mammal on earth, yet they are notoriously known for their gentleness and slow-moving nature. In traditional Asian and African communities, the mammal is often associated with strength, leadership, and a connection to the divine. Still, the robust and introverted nature of this magnificent creature means that it has a lot of meanings that might surprise you.
Because these animals are steeped in significant meaning, these beautiful mammals are popular tattoos.
Often, people today select Rhino tattoos in order to show strength, self-sufficiency, and leadership, but some people also use the tattoo to represent spiritual awareness and prayerful living.
To learn more about what Rhino tattoos symbolize, keep reading.
What Is the History of Rhino Tattoos?
The history of Rhino tattoos is not very long. During the American tattoo renaissance of the late 1980s and mid-1990s, Rhino tattoos first gained popularity.
These animals were often found in tattoos because they didn’t require a lot of colors, but they could be made as simple or ornate as you wanted it to be.
These tattoos have become more popular as it has become more known about the status of the creatures. Despite being large and strong, they have been hunted near extinction. The love that some people have for these endangered species further encourages them to get this magnificent animal tattooed on their bodies.
What Do Rhinos Symbolize?
Because Rhinos are only native to a certain part of the world, there aren’t as many myths and lures surrounding the creature, as is the case with more popular animals, like a fox or a Kingfisher. Nevertheless, it is graced with an abundance of significance and symbolism. Here are the three most common symbols associated with the animal:
- Religious Symbolism: Many ancient African religious leaders associated it with the divine connection. This divine connection was attributed to its large horn. As a result, any individuals associated it with spiritual awareness, prayer, and transcendental illumination.
- African Traditions: African traditions put a lot of focus on the Rhino. In addition to its religious significance, it also represented regeneration, adaptation, and self-sufficiency because the horn has the ability to grow back after being cut off.
- Modern Traditions: Today, Rhinos most often represent leadership and strength. It is important to note that strength is not just brute force. Instead, they are associated with a strength that can help others survive and thrive due to their gentle nature. In other words, the creature’s strength is also paired with gentleness so that the Rhino is a compassionate leader.
As you can see, a lot of the symbolism starts with its horn. Its symbolism also has to do with the fact that this creature is so large and strong yet so gentle. Because the Rhino is associated with so many positive things, there are very few negative symbols associated with this graceful creature.
What Do Rhino Tattoos Mean?
Almost all Rhino tattoos today are associated with the strength, leadership, and self-sufficiency that has long been attributed to this animal. Some individuals also get these tattoos to symbolize their connection to the divine, but most individuals you pass on the street will associate the tattoo with strength and gentleness.
Positive Meanings
The Rhino in and of itself is one of the most graceful creatures on the planet. It has a number of positive characteristics, which allows these tattoos to almost always be associated with positive meanings.
Most of the positive meanings behind these tattoos are still rooted in tradition.
- Spiritual awareness
- Illumination
- Prayerful living
- Connection to the divine
- Strength
- Regeneration
- Adaptation
- Self-sufficiency
- Leadership
- Power
- Protection
- Heightened senses
Negative Meanings
There are very few negative meanings connected with Rhino tattoos. After all, these creatures are not aggressive, they are highly intelligent, and are very strong. As a result, the animal itself does not lend itself to many negative meanings.
However, Rhinos are going extinct because of human predation. This is one of the negative meanings associated with these tattoos. Almost everyone you pass on the street knows about the extinction facing many species.
- Human predation
Characteristics and Styles of Rhino Tattoos
Rhino tattoos typically come in three different styles: realism, cartoon, and tribal. Realistic tattoos can be incredibly detailed all while looking minimalistic. They can show any of the above symbols. Cartoon tattoos point out the gentleness of the creature and their less threatening nature.
The most popular tattoo style is tribal patterns and designs. The tribal designs show the strength and sensibility behind these creatures, as well as their connection with the spiritual.
No matter what style of tattoo you get, these tattoos don’t typically have a lot of colors. At most, there will be grays and blues, but most individuals prefer black tattoos.
Where Do Rhino Tattoos Go?
The placement of Rhino tattoos depends on the exact tattoo in question.
If you are showing the entire body of the Rhino, most individuals prefer for the tattoo to be located on the chest, back, or on the inside of the upper arm so its entire body fits. Whenever it is on the inside of the upper arm, the Rhino will be facing down whenever your arm is down. Once you pick your arm up, the animal’s entire body will be parallel to the floor.
Rhino tattoos that are depicted face-on are most often on the arm, such as the forearm or upper arm. The animal can be located here since its face and horn do not require as much space as its entire body.
Does the Type of Rhino Tattoo Have Any Meaning?
There are slight differences in tattoo meaning based on the type of Rhino you select. Here is an overview of the different meanings based on species:
- Black: Adaptation, dexterity, strength
- Indian: Individuality, self-sufficiency
- Javan: Human predation
- Sumatran: Divine connection, spiritual awareness, prayer, illumination
- White: Strength, leadership, protection, human predation
Conclusion
Rhino tattoos can represent strength, leadership, protection, and divine connection. Select both the Rhino type and tattoo strategically so that you can match your tattoo to your intended meaning.
