Bee tattoos are gaining popularity rapidly. A bee tattoo can symbolize a multitude of different things: loyalty, protection, family bonds, unity, hard work, and sacrifice, just to name a few.
Bee tattoos are a beautiful choice for people who exude happiness and positivity while demonstrating oneโs dedication to hard work and sacrifice. These tattoos signify the value of teamwork and protection for those considered a part of that team.
If you are thinking about getting a bee tattoo, keep reading to learn about the common bee tattoo meanings and symbolism, and to find out which design and placement is best for you!
History
Dating back to ancient times, bees have been important symbols in many cultures.
In some ancient cultures, bees were a symbol of the soul because they can always find their way back home, no matter how far they travel from their hive. Considering that these bees donโt always make it back home, they symbolize tenacity, perseverance, and sacrifice.
Ancient Mayan culture viewed bees as a symbol of fertility because of the role they play in the ecosystem. Since bees were present in areas that thrived, the Mayans believed them to be a sign of good fortune and health.
Bees were believed to be born from the tears of the ancient Egyptian sun god, Ra. Ancient Egyptians thought bees to be responsible for the natural order of the earth. Many celebrations and festivals were based around bees as a gift from the sun gods.
Ancient Greeks referred to bees as โthe birds of Muses,โ because it was said that the Muses would place honey on the lips of mortals to give them the gift of eloquence.
In Christianity, honeybees have been used as a representation of the Virgin Mary. Whatโs more, in Catholicism, the Virgin Mary was often referred to as the โqueen of the bees.โ
Whether you are looking for the right tattoo to symbolize a difficult time in your life that you persevered through or your dedication to your family, a bee tattoo is an excellent choice to showcase your strength and tenacity.
Bee Tattoo Meaning
Bees symbolize loyalty, dedication, and sacrifice. Bee tattoos are often used to express the wearerโs dedication to a loved one or to symbolize these traits that they see in themselves.
Bee tattoos are great for people who are bright and optimistic, while also being hardworking and tenacious. Those who possess the desire to help others are the best candidates for a bee tattoo. These people represent the dedication bees express to their hive and their queen.
Bees are essential insects that pollinate the flowers that make our ecosystem flourish. They can transform a dead area into a lively field of wildflowers and weeds in no time.
Loyalty and Protection
Bees are widely known to be very loyal and protective of the queen of their hive.
While bees do not seek out confrontation, they will defend their queen and hive with their lives, making them the ultimate symbol of sacrifice and protection.
The queen bee protects and inspires all the worker bees in her hive, which is why bees will follow their queen wherever she may go. Worker bees, which die after stinging anything, dedicate their short lives to the queen of the hive. Because of this, worker bees are known to be associated as symbols of sacrifice and devotion.
Bees show honor and consistency when performing their tasks, of which often include traveling great distances from the hive and being able to find their way back home. They travel to pollinate flowers and weeds and no matter how far they go, they can always find their way back home.
The queen of the hive is loyal to her workers and in turn, those worker bees show their loyalty through protecting the queen bee at all costs and dedicating their entire lives to the queen beeโs service.
Community and Hard Work
Bees rely on communities within the hive, each with their own specific responsibilities. They consistently put the hive and the queen above themselves and they will do anything, including give up their lives to keep the hive running.
Bee tattoos symbolize teamwork, community, love, and dedication. They work tirelessly in the hives and pollinating flowers. This hardworking nature is responsible for the qualities attributed to bees such as tenacity, duty, and structure.
They are a superb example of a structured life, considering how dedicated they are to work in their hive.
The queen bee represents a whole community of bees in which she is responsible for. Everyone has a job to do in this community and they provide for one another selflessly.
The way hives are created requires instinctual knowledge and illustrates an interconnectedness like no other. Hives are so detailed and perfectly geometrical down to every little point.
A bee tattoo can symbolize the importance of community and hard work, as well as a persons love for their family and friends.
Designs and Variations
There are many different designs and variations of the bee tattoo and these can mean different things. Bee tattoos can be abstract, cartoonish, geometrical, and more. Below I will discuss a few of the more popular designs.
Queen Bee Tattoo Design
The queen bee is the leader of the colony, representing the entire community of bees under her care. Queen bees symbolize power and female leadership, as do tattoos depicting a queen bee.
A tattoo of a queen bee is great for confident people who are not afraid to fight for what they believe in.
These designs illustrate how appreciative and grateful you are for the support you have in your life. A bee tattoo can symoblize friendships that last through even the most difficult of times.
Some people may get a queen bee tattoo to represent the love they have for their own mother or the love they have for their children.
Queen bee tattoo designs may vary from colorful, simple black and white, geometrical, intricate, cartoonish, and more! You can add your own creative touch by incorporating flowers, names or anything you prefer.
Colorful Queen Bee Tattoo
Simple Black and White Queen Bee Tattoo
Geometrical Queen Bee Tattoo
Intricate Queen Bee Tattoo
Cartoonish Queen Bee Tattoo
Bumblebee Tattoo Design
A bumblebee tattoo can symbolize order, duty, and positivity. They can be a sign that you need to slow down and enjoy the world around you more. They can also symbolize your love for your family and friends.
Bumblebees are hyperfocused because they must be slow and calculated in their movements due to their wing size as compared to the size of their body. A bumblebee tattoo can represent your own thoughtfulness before making important decisions.
These beauties are actually too big for their tiny wings! This means they have to work harder at everything they do, including producing honey. Bumblebees are known to produce only enough honey for their own uses.
Ancient mythology suggests a belief that bumblebees ability to fly is an illustration of all the miracles in the world.
Bumblebee tattoo designs vary, with some being plain black ink and others being colorful, flowery designs. Add your own personalization with names, geometric designs, abstract art, or your favorite flowers!
Plain Black Ink
Colorful Bumblebee Tattoo
Colorful Flowery Bumblebee
Flower Bumblebee
Honeybee Tattoo Design
Honeybees play a critical role in the environment. They pollinate flowers and turn all their hard work into delicious golden honey. A honeybee tattoo can symbolize our hard work, strength, love for family, and our ability to turn our passions in reality.
Honeybees will give their lives for the protection of the queen and their hive, so a honeybee tattoo might represent your loyalty to your family and your courage to protect them at all costs.
Honeybees have been considered in ancient cultures to be a connection between the material and spiritual worlds.
Often in tattoos designed with honeybees in mind, a honeypot, honeycomb, or even a bear can be pictured interacting with the bees.
There many lovely designs for honeybee tattoos, from geometric shapes like a piece of honeycomb incorporated with a bee to flower wreaths being pollinated by a honeybee, you cannot go wrong with this design. Personalize it by adding valuable touches of your own life to the design!
Geometric Honeybee Tattoo
Flower Wreath Honeybee Tattoo
Honeybee Outline Tattoo
Intricate Geometric Honeybee
Bee Tattoo Placement
When getting any tattoo, placement is one of the most important factors. Do you want the tattoo to be visible, or is it something you feel is more personal to you?
The size of the design will also influence where you choose to put a bee tattoo. Some people prefer simplistic, small designs that can be put on the hands, feet, or even behind your ear. The nape of the neck is also a good choice but may be more visible than the other places named here.
Others prefer large designs that need more space to create.
For a large design you want to show off, you might consider placing it on your upper forearm or your legs, specifically around the calf.
If you want a large design but still prefer it to be hidden from immediate view, you might consider your shoulder blade area or maybe even your entire back! These are generally the best places for personal tattoos that you donโt want anyone seeing or asking about.
No matter where you choose to put your design, you really canโt go wrong with a bee tattoo.
What Will Your Bee Tattoo Look Like?
A bee tattoo can symbolize loyalty, protection, duty, love for oneโs community, family, and so much more. If you are a happy, outgoing person with a bright personality who relates to the dedicated life of bees, then a bee tattoo might be the right choice for you!
Whether you get a simplistic, small design on your wrist, hands, feet, or ankles or a large intricate piece on your forearm or across your shoulder blades, the symbolism shines through for all to see. Discuss the design and placement with your tattoo artist to decide which design and placement area is right for you.
Are you interested in learning more about other tattoos? Then read the Tattoo Meanings blog posts on our website to see if other images might be candiates for your future tattoos!
