What does a sea turtle tattoo symbolize in the Maori culture?

Answer 1

The Delaware Indians were using turtle tattoos, the turtle is also the greek symbol for 'woman', sailors got a turtle tattoo when they crossed the equator, in Japan the turtle is the symbol of a long life,but in the Christian world the turtle is the symbol for laziness and procrastination...

Turtles are able to escape the world with the comfort of its shell, so there are many people who identify well with this aquatic creature. The spirit of the turtle is one of protection, healing and inner knowledge. The Turtle is considered by some Indigenous North Americans to be one of their the oldest, most sacred symbols. They believed that North America was created on the back of a turtle. To this day most Indigenous peoples refer to North America as Turtle Island.

The medicine of turtle is its deliberate and thorough approach to life; Turtle is also courageous because it makes progress only when it sticks its neck out, and moves forward with patient, steady flow in order to achieve the desired results.

(http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_designs_symbols_turtles.htm)

Answer 2

Hawaiian name is 'honu' and they represent hawaiian ancestrial bloodlines as 'aumãkua,' a families guardian or omen of good luck. Families can have multiple nã aumãkua (plural) that can change from their different forms turtle (honu) to owl (pueo) to octopus (he'e) to shark (manõ) to just name a few. Harming them can be considered a bad omen. Green sea turtles are protected here and can be seen quite frequently while diving in shallow to deep waters.

Answer 3

In maori mythology, sea turtles were considered sacred. The maori sea turtle tattoo represents fertility and long life. This maori sea turtle is known as "The Navigator" in Polynesian culture.

Answer 4

Fertility and long life or 'the navigator' in Polynesian culture. The turtle is not a symbol that features particularly in traditional Maori art, mythology or religion.

Answer 5

The sea turtle tattoo means protection, healing and intelligence

Answer 6

The meaning of a turtle tattoo is to represent long life and positivity.

Answer 7

It means "I have such exceptionally poor judgement that I had a turtle tattooed onto myself."

Answer 8

It symbolizes strength in some cultures.