Spider Web Tattoo — Is It More Than Just a Prison Tattoo?

“A spider has no special skills other than building its web & no lifestyle choice other than sitting still.” — Haruki Murakami

No wonder why a spider web tattoo is such a popular prison tattoo. Inmates are like spiders, they have no choice but to sit still and serve time in the spiderweb known as prison.

But even in prisons spider web tattoos tell different stories — and they aren’t fairytales. But what about right now? Is a spider web tattoo just connected with the nightmares that await in prison?

The answer lies below. Let’s go.

Origin of a Spider Web Tattoo

The origin of a spider web tattoo ain’t no sunshine and butterflies type of story. In fact, its roots lay in the one place with no sunshine — the prison.

Alongside the teardrop tattoo and the three dots tattoo, the spider web tattoo was and still is one of the most popular prison tattoos. Where is it placed? On one of the most painful places to get a tattoo — the elbows.

Spider web tattoos made their first appearance in the US prison systems in the late 1900s. Back then, if you see an inmate with a cobweb tattoo on their elbow, it meant that they served a long prison sentence. The tattoo is commonly found on the elbow because it signifies that the inmate has been sitting around for so long that a spider made a web. Additionally, each ring represents the number of years spent behind bars.

Spider web tattoos were also associated with the white supremacy groups during the 1700s. To get one, a gang member must earn it by killing a minority. Through that, the members showed their loyalty to the gang. Spiderweb tattoos also meant murdering an enemy or taking part in the drug dealing business.

In Russian prisons, a spider web tattoo is inked between the thumb and index finger. This tattoo could either mean that the inmate is addicted to drugs or is a master at stealing. Either way, one thing’s for certain — the origin of a spider web tattoo ain’t a nice one, but hey, it gets better.

Spider Web Tattoo Means More Than Just ”I’ve Been to Prison”

Prison, racism, gangs, murder, violence — those were the things associated with spider web tattoos. If that was the case then everyone would be looking at how to hide a tattoo, right?

Spider webs are more than just a prison tattoo. Below we are going to talk about their various meanings.

Sailor’s Ache for Home

When one goes on a sailing expedition, there’s a small chance he’ll be back home soon. The boat becomes their home and the sea is their neverending yard.

Leaning on the side of the boat and looking at the horizon was the only thing to do to pass time, and since the time passed slowly, many sailors tattooed spider webs on their elbows to symbolize the wait. Hypothetically, the sailors were leaning on the boat for so long that spiders webbed their bodies. Pretty sad when you think about it.

These spider web tattoos, however, were nothing like those in prisons. They were made in American traditional tattoo style — a style pioneered by American sailors. Even today many people tattoo traditional spider webs, mostly to fill out an area of a big traditional art piece, like a sleeve for example.

The Native American Spider-Woman

Have you heard the story of the Native American Spider Woman Goddess? She basically ruled with the Underworld and co-created the Earth with Tawa, the Sun God. It was also thought that the goddess would weave protecting webs over the cradleboards to keep the newborns safe.

Another Native American connection with spiderwebs is the Dreamcatcher, which is hung over people’s beds to keep evil spirits and unpleasant dreams at bay. Overall, a spiderweb tattoo may be viewed as a protective symbol.

Feeling Trapped in Hardship

What’s the number one purpose of a spiderweb? — To capture prey. Well, there comes a time in life when we feel trapped, just like prey on a spiderweb.

There are many reasons why people feel trapped. Some have a huge debt, others battle with addiction, and some are trapped in their heads and suffer from anxiety and depression. In any case, the spiderweb is so strong that there’s hardly a way out. That’s why many people choose the spider web tattoo — to either remind them of the hardships they faced in the past or something that traps them in the present.

The Web of Fate

Mostly popular amongst bikers and biker gangs, the web of fate creates our life for us — we are just going with the flow of the web. Our fates are already decided and we can’t escape from the fate of the web no matter how hard we try.

The Vikings had their own spiderweb tattoo as well, called the Web of Wyrd. Even though it doesn’t look like a typical spiderweb, the Web of Wyrd is e representation of the past present and future. It was a reminder for the Vikings that the deeds of the past not only affect the present but the future as well.

Spider Web Tattoo Designs

The stigma that revolves around spider web tattoos is a good enough reason why people are having regrets about a tattoo. That’s why we explained in great detail the different meanings a spider web tattoo can carry — and now, let’s check out how it looks when tattooed on the body.