Angel's tattoo

Although this article is based on canonical information, the actual name of this subject is conjectural.

One of Angel's most defining physical traits is a large tattoo behind his right shoulder. The tattoo depicts a winged lion with the addition of the letter "A" beneath it.^[1]

History[]

In 1997, Rupert Giles used the mention of "a tattoo behind his right shoulder" from a Watcher Diary as a mean of identifying the vampire. After first seeing it, Buffy Summers described it as "a bird or something."^[1]

In 2001, while in the dimension of Pylea, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce recognized Angel despite his Van-Tal form due to the presence of his tattoo on his back.^[2]

Behind the scenes[]

Joss Whedon has described the origin of the tattoo: "Angel's tattoo actually has a very fascinating story behind it. When we said we wanted a tattoo, Todd McIntosh, our makeup artist, said, 'How about this?' And we said, 'Okay'. And one unexpected side note to that story is that I asked, 'What is that, a bird or something?' And Todd said: 'Uh huh'."^[3]
The design is based on a illustration from the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript Gospel book created in a Columban monastery in either Britain or Ireland, that depicts the symbols of the four evangelists. Angel's tattoo is a copy of the symbol known as Lion of Saint Mark.
The dubious canon story Over There, taking place during World War I, is the earlier instance in which Angel's tattoo appears. When asked about its meaning, Angel answers: "I... don't really know. I got drunk one night, and the next morning, there it was."
The tattoo is not always present when Angel's back is seen, indicating that the makeup artists working on David Boreanaz did not always apply it, such as in the episode "Eternity." It's missing from his back as well in comic stories such as "Numb" and Aftermath, Part One.