What Does Peace Sign Tattoo Mean?

Throughout history and within different cultures around the world, there are many different symbols that represent ‘peace’. The most common symbol however since the 1950’s has been the one that we all know today, which is the circle with a line going down the center, halfway down two other lines branch out to the rim of the circle. If you decide that you would like a tattoo such as the peace sign, it is suggested that you understand and know the history of how this symbol came about in the first place. Down below will be the history of the peace sign, different peace sign tattoo designs, placement, and other variations of the symbol for peace.

History

It was not until after World War II in the 1950’s that the symbol was created. Before this time, religious groups such as the Christians would use other forms of offering peace. These included the bird known as the dove and an olive branch. Doves being peaceful and beautiful birds who seem to fly freely through the air were perfect examples of a symbol for peace. The image of an olive branch was another form of signaling peace. The olive branch was used in ancient Greece as a sign of peace and victory. This idea quickly spread to Europe and all over the Mediterranean basin area.

A British man by the name of Gerald Herbert Holtom was an artist and designer, this is the very man we can thank for the symbol of the ‘peace sign’. This simple symbol was originally used for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. This was an organization that was against the military use of nuclear weapons along with chemical and biological weapons. The organization was also against the construction of nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom. This organization was highly successful in its fight against creating nuclear war amongst other countries. This symbol, much like how we do today, was worn as a way of protesting the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which was highly effective and grew in popularity over later years all over the globe.