Tattoo Symbol Index - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Tattoo designs - H >> Horseshoes

Horseshoe Tattoos - One of the principal attributes of tattoos down through the ages has been the belief that they serve as amulets and talismans of protection, that they may ward off evil spirits and that they may act as charms or good luck for the wearer. The horseshoe is perhaps one of the world's most widely known symbols of good luck.

As a tattoo design the horseshoe may stand alone as a symbol of good luck, or be incorporated with other icons associated with good fortune, such as dice or playing cards displayed in winning combinations and four-leaf clovers, among others.

The horseshoe as a symbol dates back to the times when the Romans first shod the hooves of horses, for protection against excessive wear, when horses began to replace oxen as beasts of burden and to be used for their labor in agriculture. The Romans built an extensive network of cobblestone roads to hold their empire together - leading to among other sayings, "All roads lead to Rome" - and horses were an integral part of the Roman transportation system.

The horseshoe has been seen as a symbol of both good luck and fertility.

Check out horseshoe tattoo designs by some of the world's top tattoo artists and illustrators.

Tattoo designs - H >> Horseshoes

Tattoo Symbol Index - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z