In Ancient legend, Iris traveled rainbow paths between earth and the heavens to deliver messages from the Gods, and also accompanied the deceased to the afterlife. Ancient Greeks often planted the multi-colored blooms at the gravesites of lost loved ones.

The Greek poet Hesiod wrote that Iris had “the additional duty of carrying water from the River Styx in a ewer whenever the gods had to take a solemn oath. The water would render unconscious for one year any god or goddess who lied.”

Hesiod’s writings and other mythology create another layer of symbolism a tattoo collector can imbue around Iris tattoo ideas of loyalty, honor, wisdom, and communication.

4. Fantastic Meanings in Other Mythology

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In Japanese culture, iris flower tattoo meaning is primarily tied to purifying evil energies and protecting those who wear it, an important consideration for the Yakuza gangsters that popularized colorfully intense body art.

The distinctive iris flower is a rich symbol throughout Japanese culture as a link to purity, found in everything from Ikebana flower arranging to Japanese theater and poetry to woodblock art and textiles.

In Ancient Egypt, the iris flower was associated with the powerful God Horus and Goddess Hathor, as a link to light, rebirth, regeneration, and nobility, while the bloom is also linked to the Virgin Mary in Christianity as another link to purity and innocence.

5. Realistic Iris Tattoos

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One of the most dramatic contemporary styles showcasing an artist’s skill and dedication are floral tattoos employing a photorealistic approach. 

The wearer who goes for this approach is less likely to establish deeper symbolic meaning – it’s all about the real flower and its physical characteristics being displayed on the skin.