Anglo-Saxon Tattoos

Anglo-Saxons had their own ethnic tattoos on their skin  

Anglo-Saxons - a common term in history books, includes in an oversimplified way all other tribes and peoples who settled in what is now England - indeed, myth often erases the fact that Anglo-Saxons tribes were migrants. 

In England - the name first appeared on the continent, where Latin writers used it to distinguish the Germanic Saxons of continental Europe from the English Saxons. 

Saxons - In the late Roman Empire, this name was used to refer to Germanic coastal robbers. They are believed to have originated on or near the German North Sea coast. During Carolingian and Merovingian times, continental Saxons had migrated and established settlements on the coast of what later became Normandy. The Saxons settled in England in the 5th and 6th centuries, bringing with them the pagan religious beliefs of their Scandinavian-Germanic heritage. The Saxons were known for believing and praying not to an earth goddess or to sky, but to sea gods. Streams, rivers, lakes, etc. 

The English - were one of the main Germanic peoples (from modern-day southern Denmark and northern Germany) who settled in Britain. The first known mention of the Angles was recorded by the first-century Roman historian Tacitus. Gradually, other smaller Germanic tribes, the Goths, Vandals, Lombards, Frisians, Suebi and Franks, joined the English and Saxons in search of new settlements. The pagan English worshiped various nature gods. Great importance was attached to animals and the natural world, but especially to the horse, which was considered to be associated with the gods. They played a central role in rituals and burial practices. 

Roman-British - Until AD 400, Roman Britain, a province of Britannia, was an integral, prosperous part of the Western Roman Empire, occasionally disrupted by internal rebellions or barbarian attacks. Those seeking a new home were forced to unite to confront the inhabitants of Britannia. Celtic groups also considered the invaders as their enemies, and monk Gildas (500-570 BC) mentioned a British Christian leader known as Ambrose who rallied the Roman-British against the new land seekers. Eventually, however, the invaders were able to settle most of England. 

In Anglo-Saxon history there isn’t much evidence that testifies the existence of marked warriors. As one of the historical affirmation has been mentioned the fact, that after the Anglo-Saxons defeat at the Battle of Hastings, King Harold, the last true Anglo-Saxon king, was identified only by tattoos on his body. Anglo-Saxon culture was rich and capable of creating beautiful things such as everyday objects, jewelry, weapons and armor. The excavations unearthed by archaeologists have discovered some peculiar and very interesting drawings, which were placed on shields, jewelry and were buried together with fighters. 

Interlaced band - Interlaced lane 

 This is an an Anglo-Saxon war shield design element dating from around 625 AD. It was typical for Anglo-Saxons to weave dragons and other symbolic and mythical animals from the lines. Here is a strong example of English symbols, as opposed to Celtic, Pictish or other European language. 

TIW 

This image shows the Anglo-Saxon god Tiw with a wolf-like creature on either side. This image of Tiw was found on ornate jewelry from a Satonhu burial. He is probably the oldest of all the gods worshiped by the early English. From the god Tiw we get the day Tuesday, as well as many place-names scattered throughout England. He was the god of war and was worshiped and invoked during battle. Tiw lost his right arm due to an act of bravery, and so his symbol is thought to evoke honor and courage. He was the protector of all warriors. 

Wild Swine - The Boar  

 One of the most common symbols in Anglo-Saxon culture is the boar. It was used as a symbol of protection and is therefore often found on Saxon war helmets, many have been found buried in burial grounds with boar's bristle tuft on them. It was believed that the image of a boar would protect its wearer during battle and that they would be taken over by its strength, power and ferocity. The boar was also closely associated with the Anglo-Saxon god Ingui. The bearers of this symbol believed that Ingui would watch over and protect them above all others. 

Bird of Prey - The bird of prey 

 This design shows a bird of prey with talons and a folded beak. Such models were often used to decorate armor and shields. Among the Anglo-Saxons, birds embodied strength and courage, and they believed that those who carried these symbols into battle would inherit these virtues.

This particular design was found on the shield of King Redwald, one of the greatest of the early Anglo-Saxon kings. He ruled over what is now East England and was also the overlord of all the kingdoms of England. After his death in about 625 AD, he was buried in an Anglo-Saxon warship with armor, shield, weapons and other treasures. 

The Wyvern 

Legend has it that the defeat of the British, Welsh, Scots and Irish by the early English was foretold in a prophecy. Two dragons lay in an underground lake. The British were represented by the red dragon and the English by the white dragon. When they awoke, they began to fight, and the red dragon was convincingly defeated by the white one, symbolically representing the victory of the Anglo-Saxons over their opponents. 

This two-legged dragon is the earliest known symbol of England. It appeared on the battle flags of the Wessex kings. It is the flag under which King Alfred the Great stopped the Viking advance on England at the Battle of Eddington. It is the flag under which the mighty King Athelstan defeated the combined armies of Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Denmark at the Battle of Brananburgh, and it is the flag under which King Harold II, the last true English king, finally put an end to the Viking Age by destroying the Norwegian army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.