Why do Copts have cross tattoos?

As a testament to their faith, Egypt’s Coptic Christians traditionally have a cross tattoo on their right wrist. In earlier times, this was a symbol of the hardships they faced. Today, it’s a symbol of resistance.

Why do Christians get cross tattoos?

Tattooing among Christians also became central to identifying themselves with the suffering of Jesus Christ. A cross tattoo would symbolise Christ’s crucifixion at times when Christians faced persecution.

Who created the Coptic cross?

Saint Mark
History. Coptic Christianity developed in Egypt under Saint Mark, writer of the Gospel of Mark. The Copts became separated from mainstream Christianity at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE over theological differences.

Do Egyptian kids have tattoos?

Copts have been getting cross tattoos for centuries. Historically, Coptic parents had their children’s wrists tattooed very early, so that if they were killed, their children could be identified as Christians, especially when no other form of ID was available.

What does the cross on the wrist mean?

One of the distinctive marks of a Coptic Christian is the cross tattoo worn on the wrist. Sometimes applied as early as forty days after birth (and following baptism), the tattoo is a permanent identification marker signaling to all the faith and community belonging of the bearer.

Is it bad luck to get a cross tattoo?

“It is a very common request to get a cross tattoo on the forearm, but clients frequently want it facing them because it is ‘for them,'” Le Fae says. “This then means that the cross is upside-down to the rest of the world, and could be considered unlucky.” In general, getting a tattoo upside down is discouraged.

What is Coptic religion?

Coptic Christians, known as Copts, are the largest ethno-religious minority in Egypt, constituting roughly 10 per cent of the country’s 95 million people. The word Coptic is derived from the ancient Greek word for Egyptian.

Why do Coptic Christians get cross tattoos on their wrists?

For Egypt’s Coptic Christians, cross tattoos emblazoned on the inside of a wrist are another form of ID. In an overwhelmingly Muslim society, these tattoos create a sense of belonging for Copts at a very young age – some children are taken to the tattoo artist at just a few months old. Copts have been getting cross tattoos for centuries.

How did the Cross become the national symbol of Egypt?

Moreover, with the arrival of Christianity in Egypt, in the second century after Christ, the Copts adopted the cross as the symbol, a variant of the cross, which we all know today. Although initially, only the Pharaohs could wear it, in the New Empire its use was allowed to the entire population of the country.

What is the meaning of the Egyptian cross on the lips?

This cross was also placed on the lips of dead kings, bearing in mind that according to the mentality of ancient Egypt, death did not mean the end, but was merely a transition to the afterlife, to eternal life. As is usual with many symbols of religious or spiritual origin, there is no single meaning for this symbol.

What is the meaning of the ankh cross?

The Ankh, a cross crowned by an oval, refers to the reconciliation of the opposites (feminine – masculine) and also to the symbol used to designate the planet Venus, a reason that makes it an element of numerous feminine cults. The Ankh is the symbol of transformation or transmutation, while for Coptic Christians it is one