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The SUN disk is the symbol of Ra, the ancient Egyptian god of the sun. As with other sun gods, he traveled across the SKY, but in a solar bark, like that which might have been used on the Nile, and he also used a second bark to travel through the Underworld at night. He was also the great creator and the totemic father of the pharaohs. As with other popular tattoos using ancient Egyptian imagery, the design hearkens back to a culture that still manages to capture the imagination and whose artistic influence has spread far beyond its borders. The sun disk, whether combined with HORUS or flanked by WINGS, is a bold and effective image.

The danger sign for radiation was probably first used in the United States and it serves to mark dangerous light sources that can be harmful to the eye or skin. A straight line represents the beam of light while a sunburst at the end of the line represents the light energy that the beam carries, not unlike other types of sun symbols used prehistorically.

The rainbow flag has been used as a symbol for gay and lesbian community pride since it was created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker of San Francisco. Although other groups have used the RAINBOW color scheme or actual pictures of rainbows in their symbolism, drawing on the wider meaning of the rainbow, tattoos of rainbow flags are often combined with other gay or lesbian symbols.

In Christian symbolism, the rainbow represents a covenant or promise by God, appearing after the great flood of Noah. The rainbow in other symbolism elicits similar interpretations. This gigantic SKY phenomenon was sometimes considered an expression of divine benevolence but more often it was a pathway between heaven and EARTH, a unification of the two that signalled harmony.

Tattoos of the ram, although they might symbolize the astrological sign of ARIES, are oftentimes more realistically rendered than is usual for a ZODIAC sign. The primary feature is, of course, the large curling horns. The horns are used by the ram, a male bighorn SHEEP, to battle with other males in head-butting jousts. Rams thus become symbols of natural instincts and strength, as well as masculinity, aggression, and a procreative force of life.

The Rastafarian movement is a combination of political and religious elements popular among the black population of Jamaica and elsewhere. It centers on the belief that Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, was a divine messiah. His name before becoming emperor was Ras (Prince) Tafari, from which the religion derives its name. Rastafarians believe that they are reincarnated Israelites who will one day be redeemed from oppression and rule over the white race from their homeland of Africa. This symbol, now part of some Rastafarian FLAGS, is derived from Haile Selassie, who adopted the title LION of Judah, based on the name of one of the original twelve tribes of Israel, and from which the Jews received their name.