SYRENKA TATTOOS Personal Interpretations of Warsaw's Symbol

The Mermaid of Warsaw — known in Polish as the Syrenka — is the principal feature of the city’s coat of arms. In recent years it has also become popular with residents as a tattoo design that has civic, community and individual significance. This article analyses a selection of Syrenka-inspired tattoos inscribed on the bodies of city residents. Although approximately 90% of the images addressed conform to the classic model of the Syrenka, with regards to the position of the figure’s sword and shield, in most other aspects the tattoos differ significantly from the one featured the coat of arms, referencing other images of the Syrenka scattered throughout the city. As such, these tattoos represent more than simple homages to the city’s emblem; they evidence a sentimental bond with the community of Warsaw and express the tattooed individuals’ commitments to and attitudes toward their metropolitan locale.