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Ambigram Tattoos

Ambigram Tattoos History, Popular & Celebrity Ambigram Tattoos

What Are Ambigram Tattoos?

Ambigram tattoos are stylized lettering, usually done in a calligraphic font, which spell one word or phrase when read one way, and another word or phrase when viewed upside down or from another angle.

Symmetrical ambigram tattoos are designs which read the same word right way up and upside down (see image right spelling ambigram).

Asymmetrical ambigram tattoos are designs which read a different word or phrase when viewed upside down.

At the end of this book, the words 'the end' were actually an asymmetrical ambigram which spelled puzzle when read upside down.

There are examples of many later publications which claim to also be the first ambigrams, however there are no earlier records than that of Peter Newell.

Designs have changed with fashion, but the principal remains the same.

Popular Ambigram Tattoos

The popularity of ambigram tattoos over the last few years can be attributed largely to the writer Dan Brown and his popular books 'The Da Vinci Code' and more notably 'Angel and Demons'.

The Illuminati, which is the name given to the secret society behind the new world order, is the main fictional group in Dan Brown's books which use ambigrams (images top right). The style of the ambigrams used in his books and DVDs is a very old style calligraphy lettering which has become very popular for the use in ambigram tattoos.

The most popular ambigram tattoos are one word opposites such as love and hate, angel and devil, life and death and saint and sinner. It is possible to do more than one word ambigrams if you're clever. However, phrases longer than two words are not really suitable as ambigram tattoos due to the limited space on the body.

Apart from the usual cliche ambigrams, many people try and use original words which have some kind of specific meaning to themselves like their childrens names, their boyfriend or girlfriend's names or a place name or nickname.

As with all sorts of tattoos, it's not advisable to get a tattoo with your boyfriend or girlfriend's name, for obvious reasons.

Celebrity Ambigram Tattoos

There are a few examples of celebrities with ambigram tattoos.

Eva Longoria (above right), has a symmetrical ambigram tattoo on the back of her neck which is of the word nine. At the time she had the tattoo done she was married to Tony parker, an NBA baskettball player whose jersey number happens to be the number nine.

The lead singer of Apocalyptica, formerly of hard core rock band Fuel, Toryn Green (right), has ambigram tattoos on his forearms. Toryn has the words angel and saint on opposite arms. When viewed upside down the words read as devil and sinner. According to Toryn these contrasts are representative of a modern day rock star.

Method Man (bottom right), has a common life and death tattoo under his forearm. According to Method Man, this is supposed to symbolise that he lives his life one way which is the exact opposite of the way he is going to die.

Ambigram Tattoos History

A lot of people think that ambigram tattoos are a recent phenomenon, however this is not true. Ambigram lettering was first used purposefully in 1893 by American artist and author Peter Newell in his book 'Topsys & Turvys'.
 

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