What is this?

http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html

My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week before his untimely
death. I'd like to get it in his honor but I don't know what it is. Any
ideas?

treywhitaker@gmail.com <treywhitaker@gmail.com> wrote:

> http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html
>
> My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week before his untimely
> death. I'd like to get it in his honor but I don't know what it is. Any
> ideas?

Does it really matter? It's going to mean something entirely different
to you than it meant to him.

The Queen of Under and Statement wrote:
> treywhitaker@gmail.com <treywhitaker@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html
> >
> > My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week before his untimely
> > death. I'd like to get it in his honor but I don't know what it is. Any
> > ideas?
>
> Does it really matter?

The words, "his untimely death" would indicate to me that, yeah,
maaaaybe, it DOES really matter. Ymmv, of course. D'OH!

[...]

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

On 29 Oct 2006 07:26:50 -0800, "treywhitaker@gmail.com"
<treywhitaker@gmail.com> wrote:

>http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html
>
>My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week before his untimely
>death. I'd like to get it in his honor but I don't know what it is. Any
>ideas?

It looks like a stylised Arabic "lam" (kind of the letter 'L') to me,
which, in turn, looks like a fancy 'j'.

There are a number of created alphabet writing systems out there - you
might consider if your nephew was into a particular type of gaming, or
fan culture of some sort. There's plenty of reference on web if you
have some notion of where to look.

I doubt very much it's something obscene, and since, to you, it
symbolizes your nephew, then that's what it means.

If you're wondering what to tell people if they ask, either say "it's
a memorial tattoo" and do or don't elaborate, or just go for the good
old "it's a Celtic squid of life".

nj"good luck"m


best of luck,

--
"You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end"

treywhitaker@gmail.com wrote:
> http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html
>
> My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week before his
> untimely death. I'd like to get it in his honor but I don't know
> what it is. Any ideas?

A Greek letter perhaps?

http://www.greece.org/gr-lessons/gr-...Gif/script.gif

Hmm. Scratch that.

Kanji looks like it's out as well.

An Arabic symbol? Meh.

I do have an idea or two, though.

Contact his friends. Where was he living last? If you know or can find
out the shop where he had his tattoo done then the artist who completed
the work may have some useful information for you as well as an
anecdote to share re your nephew. Condolences on your loss, of course.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

Thanks for your time, thoughts and suggestions. I'll be sure to post
the answer should I come across one.

N Jill Marsh schrieb:

> It looks like a stylised Arabic "lam" (kind of the letter 'L') to me,
> which, in turn, looks like a fancy 'j'.

Looks like a Maori fish hook (hei matau) to me.
http://www.kiwitreasure.com/prodView.asp?idproduct=199

Nina

treywhitaker@gmail.com wrote:
> http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html
>
> My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week before his untimely
> death. I'd like to get it in his honor but I don't know what it is. Any
> ideas?
>

Trey,
Condolences on your loss.

There is a better than 90% chance that this is a Maori fish hook and,
depending on the artist, may have some underlying tribal significance.

If your nephew was here in New Zealand when the tattoo was done, I would
be happy to try and contact the artist, or ask around and see if the
style is recognised, and if there are any reasons why you should or
should not take it for yourself. As with most cultures there are
protocols that, in my experience, are best followed if possible.

Email me directly if you wish,

DaveD

Nina Baltes wrote:

> N Jill Marsh schrieb:
>
>
>>It looks like a stylised Arabic "lam" (kind of the letter 'L') to me,
>>which, in turn, looks like a fancy 'j'.
>
>
> Looks like a Maori fish hook (hei matau) to me.
> http://www.kiwitreasure.com/prodView.asp?idproduct=199
>
> Nina
>

Indeed
More info here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hei_matau
DaveD

Thanks for all your thoughtful advice and information. This is starting
to come together based on what you've provided and some other things
that I've learned.

I understand that the outside points are to signify the eight points of
the Buddhist 'Dharma Wheel' that represent 'noble eightfold path'. As
for the symbol in the middle, all I'd been able to learn was that it
might be 'something Australian'. I would have to believe that the 'hei
matau' is the correct symbol.

Buddhist Wheel: Right understanding, intention, speech, action,
livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration.

Hei Matau: Strength, determination, peace, prosperity, good health and
safe travel over water.

I appreciate all your help in helping me solve this puzzle.

treywhitaker@gmail.com wrote:
> http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html
>
> My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week before his untimely
> death. I'd like to get it in his honor but I don't know what it is. Any
> ideas?

You have a picture of it but you don't know the meaning? Did you ask
your nephew?

So you want a tattoo that will tell you every day that you WEREN'T as
close to your nephew as you thought? (Since you couldn't or didn't ask
him the meaning)

I'd re-think the plan.

Really. I'm sure he did other things within that time (week before
death) period. The fact that he got a tatto is not significant. What
about his life before? Use something from that.

Kavin

Kavin Taylor wrote:
> treywhitaker@gmail.com wrote:
> > http://uconn.blogs.com/photos/tatto/jamie_tattoo.html
> >
> > My nephew had this tattoo done less than a week
> > before his untimely death.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Note a) before his untimely death.

> > I'd like to get it in his honor but
> > I don't know what it is. <snip>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Note b) I don't know what it is.

> You have a picture of it but you don't know the meaning?

See Note b).

> Did you ask your nephew?

See Note a).

[...]

What did I just say about THINKING before you ask questions, Kav? At
least read the post.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

Nina Baltes wrote:
> N Jill Marsh schrieb:
>
> > It looks like a stylised Arabic "lam" (kind of the letter 'L') to me,
> > which, in turn, looks like a fancy 'j'.
>
> Looks like a Maori fish hook (hei matau) to me.
> http://www.kiwitreasure.com/prodView.asp?idproduct=199

Although the Maori fish hook may have been something Nina recognized
outright, it's something I should have been able to find using Google
images in, say, five seconds. Well done, Nina.

My initial reaction was Greek alphabet, followed by kanji, and even
considered chem and math symbols. Missed Maori as an obvious search
string element wrt tattoos.

Where's Captain Google when ya need him?!!!

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=maori%20symbols

> Nina

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

Curt James wrote:
> What did I just say about THINKING before you ask questions, Kav? At
> least read the post.

Please tell me why you exist.


Kavin