What do John Wick's tattoos mean?

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Tattoo Meanings John Wick (2014 movie) Body Art Tattoos Related Questions

What is John Wick's past?

What do John Wick's tattoos mean?
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Where can I find the John Wick praying hands tattoo

on Google?
6 Answers
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Benjamin G. Griffin, amatuer translator of Classical Latin poetry What character did Jason Isaacs play in John Wick?
Answered Sep 20, 2016
What type of coins does John Wick use in the film?

FORTIS FORTUNA ADIUVIO should never be translated as Fortune Favours the Bold; nor is Do people like John Wick exist in real life?
this a motto of the marine corps. (who use, fortES fortuna IUVIO); and no one seems to have
Will John Wick become a franchise?
caught anything about the crosses, or that revenge (and crime) are not Christian.

The latin here is older, darker, and very pagan in spirit. Moreover, it is this very pagan-ness that
is critical to understanding the latin in the context of this Anti-Heros christian tattoos.

With this spelling in particular, the Latin recalls a much older variant of a proverb than the
Marine Corps uses one that was considered very old even in the pre-christian times of Caesar.*

You can skip my notes straight to my translation, but you shouldnt.

Fortis = (The) Strong (ones), is a plural noun it means specific people here, not an abstract
like Strength, nor the intention or attitude of boldness, and definitely nothing modern from
the US Marine Corps (who use fortES in any case)

Fortuna = is a Roman Goddess, the personification of Luck, and a spiritual force that could be
just as bad as good. N.B. She is placed at the centre of the phrase and, if you look closely, slightly
capitalised in Johns caligraphy. It is NOT mere good fortune, in the sense of good luck, nor of a
fortune in the sense of money.

Adiuvio = AD to/toward + IUVO help/aid/save particularly of a goddess, comes to

save/comes to the aid of is best here. Not favours as is the lazy way that gives the F-F
alliteration in English.

Knowing these things you can render it into modern english, and english word order, and catch
the sentiment better like this:

It is only The Strong that Fortuna (The Goddess) comes to save.

Now, understand that John Wick is a really dark figure. and that this is a revenge film.

That the cross tattoo on his shoulder is struck through (cancelled?) with a red scar, and that this
pretty dark, absolutely unchristian sentiment is placed above, (i.e. superior**), to the praying
hands on his back. Note also that the latin words themselves are the exact opposite of the meek
will inherit the earth, and written with the particular Latin spelling of precisely those Romans
that threw Christians to their lions.

This tattoo speaks to the grim, cursed, broken faith of a man who believes in Luck, but only when
his strength fails and this is what his tattoos mean, when taken together.

This is why, at the end of the film, he chooses a Pit Bull for his dog.

*C.f. Usage notes in fortis Fortuna adiuvat

https://www.quora.com/What-do-John-Wicks-tattoos-mean[30/05/2017 09:34:32 a. m.]

What do John Wick's tattoos mean? - Quora

**Superior is latin for above- and in christian heraldry, placing things symbolically above meant
more important or stronger. Here, we also have the word strong placed in this strong
position.

203.5k Views 168 Upvotes

Related Questions More Answers Below

What is John Wick's past?

Did John Wick's wife know of his past?

Where can I find the John Wick praying hands tattoo on Google?

Was Marcus John Wick's mentor?

What did John Wick's wife die of?

Marc Bodnick, Saw John Wick in theaters

Answered Jul 6, 2015

I did a pretty extensive search on Google, and it looks like the only insight available publicly is
about the big tattoo across the top of his back:

Per Moviepilot:

One of the most notable tattoos is the Latin phrase "Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat", which literally
translates to Fortune Favors the Bold. This statement is used as the motto for the 3rd
Battalion Marines stationed in the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. This could be a
nod to Keanu Reeves' Native Hawaiian heritage, and may also indicate John Wick's Marine
background in the film.

Source: Awesome Facts about Keanu Reeves' John Wick

302.6k Views 54 Upvotes

Nipun Sher, Seen it. Loved it.

Answered Jan 12, 2016

Answers here have focused only on John Wick's Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat tattoo. Granted, it was
the most prominent tattoo, but he had other important ones as well. Since Marc Bodnick's
answer covered the aforementioned Latin phrase tattoo, my answer will focus on other major
ones.

John Wick, as shown in the image below, also had a tattoo of a cross on his shoulder:

Apparently, the largest tattoo on his body was that of praying hands right smack in the middle of
his back:

Now, coming to the important question: what do they two tattoos mean? Both these tattoos
are symbolic of Christian faith. I think, these two tattoos signify that, maybe, John Wick has at
least a modicum, if not more, of faith in his heart.

72k Views 8 Upvotes

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What do John Wick's tattoos mean? - Quora

Marissa Krueger, Librarian

Answered Oct 25, 2014

The text on his back: 'fortis Fortuna adiuvat' translates to 'fortune favors the brave.'
See: Keanu Reeves: John Wick
See: The Classical Tradition p.380

151k Views 17 Upvotes

Richard Barrios, studied at California State University, Long Beach

Answered May 29, 2016

I am big fan of the movie and love the action. But I am writing this post to clear a couple things
up that I have read here. Third Marine Regiment uses the latin phrase Fortuna Fortis Juvat, not
Adiuvat.

When it comes to military tattoos there is a common use of USMC insignias and mottos and who
rates them.

Seeing the lack of other military tattoos I am leaning towards believing that the latin phrase and
other tattoos, is more of a personal nature or Russian crime lifestyle and not of military service.

Military people tend to put phrases like this with there unit insignia or something else showing
who they are and where they served. The latin phrase does not mean anything to the military
without it being next to something else to put in context.

Not that Marines only get military style tattoos, in this particular instance the latin phrase is close
but not correct. As much as I would like to see the character John Wick have a backstory with the
Marine Corps, its not likely.

39.8k Views 8 Upvotes

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https://www.quora.com/What-do-John-Wicks-tattoos-mean[30/05/2017 09:34:32 a. m.]

What do John Wick's tattoos mean? - Quora

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