A souvenir from Istanbul.
Latest body etching done by the wonderful Melika from fika tattoo.
It is the Ichtys symbol, which I encountered whilst exploring the ancient ruins of Philippi in Greece last November- it was engraved in the former Via Egnatia Roman road (last picture). The fish sign was used as a secret symbol by the early Christians who faced persecution. When a Christian met a stranger on the road, one would draw one-half of the outline of the fish in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other half, both knew they were part of the same secret faith.
The letters Ichthys spell out the ancient Greek word for 'fish'. Ichthys is also an acrostic for the phrase Iēsous Christos theou yios sōtēr:
I ēsous- Jesus
CH ristos- Christ
TH eou- God's
Y ios- Son
S ōtēr- Saviour
This translates in English to "Jesus Christ God's Son Saviour". I like the story behind it, and I like this permanent inked reminder on my arm.
- Istanbul Beyoğlu
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