23 Best Mythological Greek God Tattoos And The Meanings Behind Them
Let your body be the canvas and capture the marvelous Grecian saga with these tale-telling designs.
Greek mythology tattoos are quite fascinating. Along with Gods, such as Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Hermes, and Hades, you will find angels, monsters, mortals, and many other enchanting creatures in this universe. If you are as charmed as we are and want to get a tattoo done, you have landed on the right page. Let’s check out some of the most popular and one-of-their-kind Greek mythology-inspired tattoos along with their meanings and significance.
Best Greek Mythology Tattoos And Their Meanings
1. Black And Gray Tattoos
wildfirepunch / Instagram
This gorgeous black and gray tattoo is of Athena, the Greek Goddess. She was regarded as the patron and protector of various cities across Greece, especially Athens, from which she gets her name. Athena was known for her wisdom, handicraft, and warfare skills. Her symbols are a spear, the distaff, and a shield. You can get this tattoo done on the bicep, forearm, or the shoulder.
2. Greek Statue Tattoos
irezumiink / Instagram
If you are a fan of Greek heritage and culture, you might want to check out this stunning tattoo of the statue of Apollo. Apollo is the god of medicine, archery, music and dance, truth, and prophecy. He was the son of the ultimate Greek god – Zeus. You can get this tattoo done on your forearm or shoulder.
3. Greek Mythology Sleeve Tattoos
sincerelyarchie / Instagram
Sleeve tattoos give a very tough and brave vibe. This tattoo is inked all over the arm and has Greek gods and goddesses. From the warrior to Apollo, the crow, and the lion, every minute detailing in the sleeve tattoo is stunning. You can get various symbols or mythological characters done based on your preference.
4. Realism Greek Tattoos
mpg_art / Instagram
Realism tattoos are drawn such that they look lifelike. They are also known as portrait tattoos. They can be done in various colors or kept simple with black or gray. This tattoo is of Ananke and Cronus, the Greek God and Goddess. Ananke symbolizes inevitability, compulsion, and necessity and is usually holding a spindle. While Cronus is the King of the Titans and the God of Time, known for his kindness and generosity. You can get this tattoo done on the bicep.
5. Greek Tribal Tattoos
_tattoofx / Instagram
This Greek tribal tattoo is nothing but the design of a labyrinth. Even though it looks like a maze, the labyrinth is different. It has no dead ends, which means that there is only one path, and while it does have twists and turns, you can’t get lost. This Greek tribal tattoo means that we are being lead to our destiny or are in the constant search of ourselves in this world.
6. Greek Letter And Quote Tattoos
stratostattoo / Instagram
Usually, some verses from the Greek bible or a few words from mythology are picked and inscribed as tattoos. Each letter or verse has a unique symbolism or meaning behind it. The Greek font looks very stunning when inscribed on your body. You could get Greek letter tattoos on your wrist, arm, or even shoulder.
7. Atlas Tattoos
lovebeyou_tattooer / Instagram
Atlas was a Titan who was responsible for bearing the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, a punishment bestowed on him by Zeus. Atlas was said to have been skilled in philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. The Atlas tattoo signifies endurance, perseverance, and determination. You can get this tattoo done on your arm or leg.
8. Caduceus Tattoos
theinkednurse / Instagram
The caduceus is the traditional symbol of Hermes and features two snakes winding around a winged staff. Hermes was a quick and cunning Greek god who was the ambassador of commerce and trade. Here, trade means that he was the conductor of souls into the afterlife. A caduceus tattoo symbolizes balance and negotiation. You can get this tattoo done on your neck, shoulder, or forearm.
9. Zeus And Athena Tattoos
atarfe_ink / Instagram
If you are super inspired by Greek mythology and decide to get a Greek god and goddess tattoo, you should save this picture! Zeus and Athena have been merged beautifully to make one whole tattoo. The tattoo symbolizes everything strong, supreme, and serene.
10. Asklepios Tattoos
tigatzigane / Instagram
Asclepius or Asklepios is the God of Healing and the son of the God of Medicine – Apollo. An Asclepius tattoo signifies healing, rebirth, or renewal. This tattoo is of the staff of Asclepius. It is a serpent-entwined rod used for healing. You can sport this on the forearm, bicep, shoulder, or back.
11. Greek Illustration Tattoos
elitattooer / Instagram
Illustration tattoos are tattoos that are usually in the sketch form with bold outlines and realistic shading. This Medusa tattoo on the arm is a classic example of an illustration tattoo. The stunning outlines and the light shading and rendering along the design give it depth and visual finesse. You can get illustration tattoos done on the arm or shoulder.
12. Hephaestus Tattoos
richardson.tattoo / Instagram
Hephaestus is the Greek god of fire, ironwork, blacksmith, and sculpture. The tattoo here depicts a blacksmith at work with his essentials – hammer, tong, and anvil. The Hephaestus tattoo symbolizes that in spite of having a rough life, there’s always hope for change. This tattoo represents creativity and an artistic character.
13. Zeus Tattoos
josuejavier37 / Instagram
Zeus is considered the king of all gods. He is an illustration of great force and power as he is the god of the sky, thunder, and lightning. This tattoo of Zeus with thunder in his hand emphasizes ‘power’ without having to be dependent on anyone else.
14. Greek Warrior Tattoos
bill_anag / Instagram
This tattoo portrays the picture of Achilles at war. Achilles is one of the renowned Greek warriors. He was a hero during the Trojan War and was known for his bravery. An Achilles tattoo symbolizes bravery, courage, strength, and patience. In this tattoo, the Greek warrior can be seen holding a shield and a sword that symbolize protection, power, and strength.
15. Greek Armband Tattoos
killerinktattooz / Instagram
Greek armband tattoos have meander motif patterns tattooed along the arm like a band. A meander motif is a decorative geometric border constructed from a continuous line that forms a right angle pattern and keeps turning into a repetitive border. This Greek key tattoo symbolizes infinity and the eternal flow of things.
16. Greek Angel Tattoos
luckycatstudio / Instagram
Angels have played a very significant and essential role in Greek mythology. The word ‘angel’ comes from the Greek word ‘Aggelos,’ which roughly means messenger. The angel tattoo signifies the victory of truth over evil and also purity and peace.
17. Medusa Sleeve Tattoos
charlie.medusa / Instagram
A Medusa tattoo displays a creature, more like a monster, with several venomous snakes that make her hair. Medusa symbolizes death and rebirth. You can either go for a black and gray tattoo or add some colors like ox-blood red and jazz it up.
18. Athena And Aphrodite Back Tattoo
zoya_myers / Instagram
This back tattoo shows Athena at one end and Aphrodite at the other. Athena symbolizes warfare, wisdom, and peace, while Aphrodite symbolizes beauty, love, and pleasure.
19. Centaur Tattoos
wagsales11 / Instagram
In Greek mythology, a centaur is a creature who is half-man, half-horse. It has a head, arms, and torso like humans and is joined at the waist to the body and legs of a horse. Centaur tattoos depict untamed minds, virility, and animal instinct. This Greek mythological centaur tattoo is for people who want to display courage and valor. You can get this tattoo done on your back or shoulder.
20. Greek Mythology Tattoos On The Forearm
nico.traversi / Instagram
If you want to get a tattoo from Greek mythology on your forearm, you should look for designs that are bold, well-structured, and skillfully done. If you have a personality that’s bold, fearless, and brave, a perfectly designed warrior-like tattoo will look great on your forearm – and who better than Athena to signify that? Check out this stunning tattoo of Athena.
21. Greek Mythology Leg Tattoos
__malaliebeskind / Instagram
This tattoo of Medusa done on the leg is stunning to look at. Medusa was known to turn people to stone just by gazing at them. These tattoos have become symbols of feminism. They represent feminine power and wisdom.
22. Selene Shoulder Tattoos
pufguilherme / Instagram
If you plan on getting shoulder tattoos, get an elaborate character that needs space and can be spread out extensively to live up to the character’s grandeur. This tattoo depicts Selene, the goddess of the moon. She symbolizes fertility and the circle of life.
23. Artemis Back Tattoos
solarakey / Instagram
Just like the shoulder, the back offers a lot of space to create beautiful tattoo designs. This tattoo is of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. Artemis symbolizes compassion, fearlessness, free-spiritedness, and independence. Her symbols are bow and arrow, and she’s usually surrounded by stags, dogs, birds, etc.
Greek mythology is a fascinating mix of Gods, Goddesses, demigods, monsters, and other enchanting creatures. These lores have captured the imagination of many people for thousands of years. The characters in these stories are relatable and explain several elements of the natural and physical world. We have an extensive list of tattoos for you to choose from. These range from tattoos of deities and monsters to tattoos of Greek quotes and letters. If you want to get some Greek mythology tattoos, check out this article for some creative inspiration.
Recommended Articles:
- Best Libra Tattoo Designs
