Need some new tattoo ideas? Check out this compilation of amazing phoenix tattoos and what they symbolize.
Credit: @stellatxttoo
When deciding on a tattoo idea or a specific design, most people look for something that can both look awesome and have some kind of meaning.
A phoenix tattoo design is a great choice because it does both of these things very well.
With a rich history, deep symbolism, and thousands of different designs to choose from, phoenix themed tattoos never go out of style.
Keep reading to find out more about the meaning behind phoenix style body art, some great design ideas, and lots of examples of gorgeous phoenix artwork.
Legends of the phoenix
The phoenix holds an important place in the mythologies of many cultures – especially Greek, Egyptian, and Phoenician, where it is known as the mystical fire-bird.
Mythological history is rich in stories of the phoenix, and they all have one thing in common: the bird’s ability to be reborn and to rise out of its own ashes.
According to one legend, the phoenix would live in solitude for centuries and as it matured, it would lay a single egg in a nest.
Then, it would set itself, the nest, and the egg on fire. Once the fire burned itself out, the phoenix would emerge from the ashes, young and stronger than before.
Another legend states that the phoenix would live for a thousand years. Towards the end of this time, the bird would build a nest made of myrrh twigs and set itself on fire inside it.
After three days, the phoenix would rise again from the ashes to live for another thousand years. It would then burn itself again, and again after another thousand years – and so on, in an infinite cycle of rebirth.
The phoenix in different cultures
One of the most interesting things about the phoenix is that it is a recurring element in many different cultures and mythologies around the world.
Although the specifics may be different from one culture to another, the concept of the immortal fire-bird keeps appearing across history.
- Phoenix in Egyptian culture – In ancient Egyptian culture, the phoenix was known by the name of Bennu. Bennu was a bird born out of a burning holy tree. It resembled a heron and was revered as the soul of Ra, the mythical Egyptian Sun god.
- Phoenix in Greek culture – The word ‘phoenix’ comes from the Ancient Greek phoînix. In this culture too, the phoenix was associated with the Sun. Just as the sun sets every day like a ball of fire to rise again the next day, the phoenix ends its life in fire to come to life yet again.
- Phoenix in Indian Culture – The ancient Indian mythology talks of an immortal bird called Garuda, which is perhaps where the idea of the phoenix originally comes from. It was a mythological character from the Ramayana. Garuda was believed to have the body of a man with wings and an eagle-like beak.
- Phoenix in Chinese and Japanese cultures – Ancient Chinese culture contained references to a bird called Feng Huang. Feng Huang was the leader of all birds and had the powers of yin and yang. It stood as the symbol of peace and harmony.
- Phoenix in Japanese culture – Japanese culture mentions the phoenix as Ho-Oo or Hou-Ou, with Ho/Hou being the male bird, and Oo/Ou the female. The Ho-Oo was seen as a symbol of the royal family.
Phoenix tattoo meaning
Though the phoenix may have symbolized slightly different concepts in various cultures, the bird’s symbolism was always positive.
In fact, in Japanese mythology, it would appear only in times of prosperity and peace.
Recommended: Don’t miss our guide to mystical Buddha tattoos next.
The key and unchanging meaning of a phoenix bird tattoo is that of rebirth. To this day, the phoenix is used as a metaphor for rising out of the ashes.
It’s understood to represent overcoming the toughest obstacles, emerging victorious, and becoming stronger through facing challenges.
Phoenix designs are often meant to be reminders of our own strength – no matter how bad things get, even when everything is ‘in flames’, we can survive and grow through perseverance.
Some people also decide to get phoenix tattoo designs to mark an important transition in their lives. Often, this relates to a time when they thought their life was over but managed to pick themselves up and become whole again.
Phoenix tattoo placements
The phoenix is a suitable element for a range of designs in all sizes. This makes it a viable option for any kind of tattoo placement, though of course as always you have to remember that designs with lots of detail will need to be a bit bigger – and therefore be placed somewhere with enough space.
Though a minimalistic phoenix design can be made to fit even somewhere as small as your wrist or finger, phoenixes are usually tattooed as larger designs.
This is because the phoenix as an image tends to look best in a medium to large size, and is more easily recognizable in this format. As a design concept, the phoenix also offers plenty of scope for a creative, artistic take – often involving lots of color and detail.
Body areas best-suited for a medium to large phoenix tattoo include:
- Back – The largest relatively flat area on the body, the back is the best place for a large tattoo. The top of the back in particular works really well for a design of a bird with its wings outstretched.
- Chest – Another relatively large space for a tattoo, the chest can be an interesting placement for a phoenix. Consider the top of the chest for wider designs.
- Ribs – The ribs are a popular placement for bird tattoos in general, and phoenixes are no exception. For larger designs, consider having the tattoo wrapping itself around your side – for instance, starting at the side of your stomach and ending on your back.
- Legs – Legs, particularly the side of the thigh, can also offer a large enough space for a more complex phoenix themed tattoo. Again, you could consider a design that wraps itself around your leg – either fully or partially. This placement has the potential advantage of being easy to display.
This isn’t to say that your phoenix style tattoo has to be large. As mentioned above, smaller tattoos, for instance on the forearm or shoulder, are also an option.
Related: Why are Medusa tattoos so popular and what do they symbolize?
Popular phoenix tattoo designs
The phoenix is a brightly-colored bird, and so it’s unsurprising that the vast majority of phoenix designs are done in color.
Typically, the phoenix is shown as combining red, orange, yellow, and hints of purple – making for a very vivid and eye-catching tattoo.
A red phoenix is not the only option though. A traditional Chinese phoenix tattoo combines white, black, red, yellow, and green. The Greek phoenix, meanwhile, is scarlet and gold.
Though not as popular, all-black phoenix designs can also be found. Keep in mind though that if you opt for a black phoenix, it’ll be less recognizable – bright coloring is the bird’s key defining characteristic.
At the same time, large and colorful tattoos are likely to be more painful and more expensive than smaller black designs.
Phoenixes in tattoos are often combined with other elements for a more complex design. Chinese symbols, fire and flames, the sun, dragons and tribal patterns are all popular choices. Text, such as initials, dates, names, or quotes can also be added to highlight the symbolic meaning of the tattoo.
Phoenix tattoo design ideas
The phoenix works great both as a standalone tattoo and as an element of a broader image. Consider the following ideas when deciding on your phoenix design:
- Phoenix and egg – Combining a grown phoenix with the image of an egg can highlight the metaphorical notion of rebirth and the cycle of life in your tattoo.
- Phoenix and Chinese dragon – This combination makes for a complicated design. Both the phoenix and the Chinese dragon are usually tattooed with lots of detail and color, so you’ll likely need to take into account that this type of tattoo will cover a large area. When done, though, there’s no way this combination isn’t going to look impressive! Interestingly, in Chinese mythology the phoenix was often paired with a dragon. This is because the phoenix symbolized the empress, and the dragon the emperor.
- Standalone phoenix – A well-designed phoenix in a tattoo will look awesome on its own – it’s in no way necessary to make it a part of a large image. Phoenix artwork can involve lots of detail and vivid coloring, meaning the design will look impressive and complete with nothing but the bird.
- Phoenix on fire – Fire is an obvious association with the phoenix, and can be added to the tattoo for a more complex design. Just like with the phoenix and egg combination, adding fire will underline the idea of rebirth and rising from the ashes that the bird represents.
Celebrities with phoenix body art
Phoenixes have always been a popular choice for tattoos. Plenty of celebrities have them, too, including:
- Melanie Brown – the Spice Girls’ Mel B – has a large tribal-inspired phoenix design on her right upper arm.
- Margaret Cho – On her left upper arm, Margaret Cho has a tattoo of a bird with the body of a phoenix and peacock feathers that are colored with purple.
- Sarah Harding – Sarah Harding has a large tattoo on her upper back, involving two black phoenixes.
Final Words
Phoenix designs tend to be very impressive, with vivid colors and usually large sizes. When designed and inked well, phoenix body art can look absolutely stunning. This makes them a fairly popular choice for those looking for bold, big designs with an interesting symbolic meaning.
Though phoenixes are a common element of tattoos, there’s no reason why yours can’t be unique. Whether you’re considering a phoenix tattoo just for its aesthetic value or as a metaphorical statement (or both!), you can get creative and make your tattoo truly your own. In the meantime, have fun browsing the gallery and looking for inspiration!
Wow. Great collection, thanks for sharing with us.