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The cross, with the rich history and the mystery surrounding it, is one of the most common symbols known to man. Legends as to its origin are highly talked about and, to this date, no one knows exactly how, when and where it originated.

Right now, all we have are a few clues and lots of speculations. In addition to the mystery that shrouds the cross, this symbol has come to represent the Christ's martyrdom and mankind's deliverance from sins and is a highly regarded symbol for Christianity.

Religion could be the reason behind the popularity of cross tattoos in our society since Christianity is the world's number 1 religion today in terms of number of adherents. Wearing of cross tattoos may be one person's way of professing his faith or as a way of regaining his faith. Or it could also be that the wearer was drawn to the mysterious aura of the symbol, hence, the tattoo.

But whatever the reasons are, cross tattoos would remain one of the world's most requested tattoo designs. And finding the right design is sometimes a problem for newbies wishing to get cross tattoos for themselves. Confusion sets in when there are thousands of them to choose from. And we have to take note that they don't always mean the same thing. You wouldn't want to pick out a design that does not reflect your views or describe how you are actually feeling.

Here is an overview of several cross tattoo designs to help you differentiate one from the other:

Christian cross tattoos ' These are simple, non-elaborate versions of the cross, often accompanied with religious inscriptions, or the Sacred Heart, and sometimes with the body of the Christ nailed to it. This is also known as the Latin cross.

Gothic cross tattoos ' These resemble the Gothic iron design with its beveled edges and is often heavily adorned. They induce dark imagery and often represent feelings of anger and pain. A cross that doubles as a dagger and a cross entwined with barbed wire are common examples of gothic cross designs.

Tribal cross tattoos ' These are basically crosses combined with ethnic flavor and flowing strokes distinctive of tribal designs.

Celtic cross tattoos ' These are, by far, the most popular cross tattoo design to date. It mainly originated from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. With the history and the intriguing legends behind it, not to mention its profound representation, it is not unusual that this tattoo design is one of the most sought after. They often have elaborate designs with intricate loops and knot work that seems to go on and on around the cross itself. This represents the never ending cycle of life.

Sporting around a cross tattoo could be for religious reasons for some. But for the others out there, cross tattoos are ways of self-expression. It could be anger, it could be depression, or it could be his love for his heritage. For some, it is simply the love of this art that dictates whether he wants to be inked or not.