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Wolf Tattoo(includes Coyote, Fox)Is a wolf tattoo for you? The world is filled with wolf legends, and a wolf tattoo design could connect you to several ancient stories – stories even richer and more frightening than the “Big Bad Wolf” in Little Red Riding Hood. As Hanson observed, “The wolf has sunk its teeth into our imaginations. Its howl sounds the spirit of the wilderness, haunting and free. Then flood in the fears from reading fairy tales and werewolf stories. It is exciting, even exalting, to see a live wolf, its paws huge and its dignity unbounded” (p. 159). Sadly, though wolf tales abound, their numbers are dwindling. Of the 30 remaining wolf species (e.g. timber, arctic), all are subspecies of the gray wolf.
That howl has captured the imagination of generations of listeners. To the ancient Greco-Romans, the wolf was sacred to gods such as Mars and Apollo. A famous image from ancient Rome is the statue of the twins Romulus and Remus, suckling on a she-wolf. Many thought the wolf was a ghost, and that its gaze could render one speechless. It symbolized valor and victory at war. To the Aztecs, it was the God of Dance. To Hindus, the wolf represented night; to Hebrews, it denoted persecution and cruelty; and to early Christians, it was a sign of the devil (but also emblematic to saints such as Francis of Assisi and William of Vercelli, who tamed wolves). In ancient China, the wolf symbolized greed, distrust, and fear. Genghis Khan capitalized on these myths, claiming he was descended from a blue-gray wolf. Only the Turks actually used the wolf as totem for their flags and banners. Old Europe has its share of wolf narratives as well. The wolf was a popular clan-totem, especially for Irish tribes during the Renaissance. Celtic stories tell of a wolf swallowing Sky Father – the sun. Similarly, in Norse/Teutonic mythology, the god Odin is said to have ridden wolves, but died in battle with the mighty sun-swallowing wolf, Fenris. European legends also gave rise to the legends of the werewolf (discussed under Horror). The richest wolf legends however – and the most common images to show up in tattoos – are linked to Native Americans. Generally, tribes associated the wolf with the star Sirius in Canis Major, from which legends claimed the teachers of old originated. Thus, the wolf was associated with wisdom, teaching, power of the night, and the moon. The wolf was respected for its living style; being independent without sacrificing family. It was a being of great power and magic. Generally represented as feminine, the wolf also symbolized spiritual energy, leadership, healing power, and the wisdom to instill courage. Pueblo Indians revered the wolf, and viewed the coyote (discussed later) as its contemptible opposite. Cherokees would never kill a wolf; they feared the spirit of the slain animal would return to avenge itself. The Sioux held similar beliefs, but tended to associate the wolf with masculinity and added spiritual characteristics such as invisibility (the only animal they believed could do this), observation, and attentiveness. The wolf could access the Wind Powers and confuse its enemies. Much beautiful tattoo art joins a wolf with other Native American imagery such as mountains, eagles, dreamcatchers, and people (quite often, a beautiful Indian maiden). Coyote and Fox
Coming from the same family of wild canines, coyotes and foxes are the smaller and less respected cousins of the wolf. Bred from wolves and domestic dogs, the coyote is most common to North and Central America, limiting its legends to Native American tales. It is viewed as a trickster god, mischievous but sacred.
It tends to act the clown and, even though it rarely learns from its own mistakes, generally makes the best of a bad situation. The coyote was a shape-shifter and miracle worker, and had the ability to rile up a repressed society, but do so carefully and with elegance. In some traditions, the coyote was called the “Opener of the Way,” alleged to have assisted with the creation of the human race.
Viewed by Native Americans as clever, quiet, and a master of camouflage, the fox was a good luck totem for those who traveled. Unlike the geographically challenged coyote, the fox was found worldwide, and had a few international legends. In ancient Lydia, for example, the fox was a totem for both Orpheus and Dionysus – though specifics about their relationships are often in conflict. The most famous ancient tale is of the medieval fox Reynard, who spoke like a human and embarked on many miraculous exploits. His tales have been translated now into several children’s books and films, and could be the basis for the old adage “Sly (crazy) like a fox.”
For more information on Wolf tattoos and Animal tattoos, see the resources listed on our Reference Page.
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