The original Pictish stone carving on which this boar tattoo is based is housed in the antiquities museum in Edinburgh, Scotland. Rendering it with dots, as shown, brings out the sense of it having been pecked into the stone.
The boar was always the most feared and desired prey for those seeking their sustenance in the forest. No other animal posed as much danger for the hunters and their dogs, no other was as wily and strong, a most worthy assailant.
The center of this traditional Celtic cross is a knight's sword, and the heraldic rose at the head signifies adherence to the Knights Code of Chivalry, a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.
To fear God and maintain His Church
To serve the liege lord in valor and faith
To protect the weak and defenceless
To give succor to widows and orphans
To refrain from the wanton giving of offense
To live by honor and for glory
To despise pecuniary reward
To fight for the welfare of all
To obey those placed in authority
To guard the honor of fellow knights
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
To keep faith
At all times to speak the truth
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
To respect the honor of women
Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
Never to turn the back upon a foe
A full wrap forearm sleeve of knotwork with a prominent shamrock design woven into the braiding, shown here placed on the inside of the arm and highlighted with colored ink in the background spaces in the shamrock. Fitted perfectly to the arm, it gives the appearance of chain mail armor and an archer's gauntlet.
The animals in this man's family crest are woven into this interlaced Celtic knotwork forearm sleeve tattoo. A lion, a chuff bird , and a camel. An unusual grouping, now united in this pattern of knots to cover his forearm in an integrated pattern.
