10 Ancient Egyptian Tattoo Designs
- The Ankh: The ankh is a symbol that represents the key of life. ...
- The Udjat or The Eye: The Udjat symbolizes healing and protection. It features a beautiful eye. ...
- The Shen Or The Endless Circle: The Shen symbolizes infinity. ...
- Hieroglyphs: Hieroglyphs are symbols that represent the characters of the Egyptian language. ...
Full Answer
What does an Egyptian tattoo mean?
What do Egyptian tattoos mean?Egyptian tattoos are beautiful representations of power and prestige. They speak to days of old when pharaohs ruled the land and gods and goddesses were put on high pedestals. It was a different age but the markings have followed people through the generations. Egyptian tattoos are still popular among many people.
Why do older women get tattoos?
For women who reach their 50s, a decade during which many begin to feel invisible and ignored by men and younger people because of their age, a tattoo is an ideal birthday present to themselves....
Should women have tattoos?
What Your Tattoo Placement Says About Your Personality
- The Ribcage. The ribcage is a less common, but increasingly popular place for a tattoo. ...
- Fingers. Finger tattoos are uncommon for a number of reasons, some cultural, some practical. ...
- Calves. Calf tattoos tend to be a little bit more common among men than women, but among women, it's definitely catching on.
- Feet and ankles. ...
- Arms. ...
- Wrist. ...
- Thigh. ...
- Chest. ...
- Back. ...
- Ears. ...
What does an Egyptian eye tattoo symbolize?
What does the Egyptian eye tattoo mean? The Eye of Horus (also known as The Eye of Ra) is a symbol of Egyptian origin that stands for health, knowledge, and power. In addition to health and power, it is also believed to give protection to its bearer. … 10 Related Question Answers Found
What do Egyptian tattoos symbolize?
One of the globally recognized ancient Egyptian symbols is the Eye of Horus. It is a religious symbol that represents healing, well-being, health, and protection. The symbols of the Eye stems from a mythical conflict between Horus and Set (god of desserts and storms, rival of Horus).
Are tattoos common in Egypt?
As a result of Egypt turning into more of a religiously led country, with a large Muslim population as well as a strong Coptic Christian population, tattooing is largely seen as taboo and against 'social norms' primarily due to it being seen as a sort of sin by Egypt's religious community.
Did ancient Egypt have tattoos?
Earliest Ancient Egyptian Tattoos Found on Mummies. The 5,000-year-old mummies have tattooed images of sheep, bulls, and mysterious lines. Ancient Egyptians were getting inked up earlier than we thought. A new analysis of two mummies shows the pair were sporting tattoos.
What does an Egyptian queen tattoo mean?
Egyptian Tattoos. Queen Nefertiti ruled alongside the revolutionary Pharaoh Akhenaten and has been described at different times as “the most beautiful woman in history.” A Nefertiti tattoo symbolizes feminine strength, power, beauty and devotion, and are popular motifs for lovers of Ancient Egyptian body art designs.
Can you go to a mosque with tattoos?
For those who aren't aware, tattoos are considered haram (forbidden) in Islam. There is no specific Islamic verse outlining this point but many people believe wudu (the purification ritual) cannot be completed if you have a tattoo on your body. Hence, you can never pray.
Who is the most famous Egyptian goddess?
Isis -Isis - The most powerful and popular goddess in Egyptian history. She was associated with virtually every aspect of human life and, in time, became elevated to the position of supreme deity, "Mother of the Gods", who cared for her fellow deities as she did for human beings.
What is the Bible say about tattoos?
But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” Historically, scholars have often understood this as a warning against pagan practices of mourning.
What ink did Egyptians use for tattoos?
The tattoos on these two mummies were inked into the thicker part of their skin (the dermis) and the ink used was made from soot. It is believed that copper instruments were routinely used for the purpose of tattooing human bodies.
What culture started tattoos?
Early and ethnographic tattoos The earliest evidence of tattoo art comes in the form of clay figurines that had their faces painted or engraved to represent tattoo marks. The oldest figures of this kind have been recovered from tombs in Japan dating to 5000 BCE or older.
What does a Cleopatra tattoo mean?
A Cleopatra tattoo can symbolize women in power and excellent leadership skills. Cleopatra would often dress up as the goddess Isis- not just for the fashion.
What does Cleopatra symbolize?
While queen of Egypt (51–30 BCE), Cleopatra actively influenced Roman politics at a crucial period and was especially known for her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She came to represent, as did no other woman of antiquity, the prototype of the romantic femme fatale.
What do pharaoh tattoos mean?
Pharaoh Tattoo Meaning Pharaohs were the kings of the land way back when, which is why the most common meaning for the pharaoh tattoo is power. Those who get their pharaoh tattoos to represent power aren't necessarily saying that they are the most powerful people around.
What is the goddess of tattoos?
Egyptian Goddess Isis was the mother of Horus. She was considered as the goddess of poor people and mother of nature and magic. A cool idea for Egyptian tattoos for females would be to try isis tattoo on full back. 22. There are many Egyptian goddesses that could be the inspiration for your next tattoo.
What goddess is the inspiration for tattoos?
There are many Egyptian goddesses that could be the inspiration for your next tattoo. My favorite would be Maat (goddess of law and justice), Input, Anuket (Goddess of river Nile), Bast (Goddess of cats) and Hathor (Goddess of Love). 23. Egyptian God Anubis was also cited as a protector of law and justice.
What does an ankh tattoo mean?
Egyptian Ankh symbolizes life and it is in the form of a cross. While many like to have a simple Egyptian ankh tattoo you can have a modified version like this. 6. I don’t think it’s a cool idea to have an ancient Egyptian tattoo on the full-back but still many people love to have them.
What is the symbol of the Egyptian god?
Egyptian God Horus was cited as the god of the sky by ancient Egyptians. His symbol was that of an eye. The eye of Horus represented magical powers and blessings from deities. Here is an Egyptian eye tattoo that will look meaningful to people who believe in ancient mythology.
Can you get a tattoo of Horus on both hands?
According to Egyptian tattoos history people of ancient egypt used to have tattoos of their cats. 44. Even though it’s not a meaningful idea to have the eye of Horus tattoo on both hands but it will look cool if you have such matching tattoo with your sibling.
Who is the most popular Egyptian queen?
Here is an egyptian queen tattoo that shows the re-imagination of egyptian queens. 29. Cleopatra is surely the most popular Egyptian queen of all time but the land of ancient Egypt was ruled by many powerful females. You can try tattoos of those queens.
Do Egyptian pharaohs have tattoos?
The Egyptian pharaohs often used to glorify themselves. You can have a tattoo of Egyptian tombs that had been molded according to the face of pharaohs. 26. Egyptian pharaohs used to have a long beard on their chin so make sure you show that In your Egyptian pharaoh tattoos.
What does a tattoo represent in Egypt?
In general, Egyptian tattoos represent divine connections. Tattoos with this meaning usually include Egyptian Gods in the overall design. Egyptians are widely known as strong believers and faithful citizens to their Gods and Goddesses.
What does an Egyptian tattoo mean?
In general, Egyptian tattoos represent divine connections.
Why are Egyptian tattoos so popular?
One of the reasons why Egyptian tattoos are extremely popular even up to this day is because of its rich symbolic and ornate imagery.
What is the Egyptian culture?
Egyptians have a rich culture and history. Egyptians were among the many people who practiced ancient art. The Egyptians’ love for the ancient art is present in their structures, paintings and even tattoos. The thing about Egyptian art is that it uses symbols that are hard to decipher which make their art even more admirable and intriguing for many people worldwide.
What does a tattoo mean?
This symbolic tattoo is a part of numerous generations. A pharaoh was the one who ruled the ancient Egypt. A pharaoh is comparable to a king in the modern day setting. The Pharaoh has the highest authority and power during a specific era in the past. As a tattoo design, it means power and authority. Usually, the first and last Pharaohs of the land are the ones who appear in tattoo designs.
How much does an Egyptian tattoo cost?
For black ink Egyptian inspired tattoos, it will probably cost about $100 – $200 per tattoo.
What does it mean to get a tattoo of God?
If you get this kind of tattoo, then it would automatically mean that you believe in that certain God or Goddess. Many Egyptian tattoos serve as amulets or protection.
Egyptian Tattoos Placement Ideas
Hand or finger placement – Egyptian tattoos that work best on the hand would be the ones featuring hieroglyphs and small but meaningful motifs like the Ankh or the Eye of Hours. Some people even get small pharaoh tattoos on their hands.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article was informative and helpful for those interested in getting an ancient Egypt-inspired tattoo. We tried to go into detail with the meanings, so you really know what kind of tattoo you’re getting. For more interesting tattoo ideas, make sure to check out or other articles; there are tattoo designs and ideas for everybody.
What is the history of Egyptian tattoos?
History of Egyptian tattoos. The ancient Egyptians are well-known to have created stylized and symbolic artworks on their tombs and monuments, however, they’re also now known to be some of the earliest recorded tattoo artists in history.
When were tattoos first used in Egypt?
The earliest Egyptian style tattoos date back to around 2000BC, about the same time that the pyramids were under construction. Mummies from this era have now been found that still have their tattoos visible. Tattoos are thought to have had a major role to play in Ancient Egyptian culture.
What is the name of the Egyptian god's tattoo?
Ra Or Horus – An Egyptian Gods Tattoo. The Eye of Ra and its partner, the Eye of Horus are two more very popular and famous ancient Egyptian symbols which are known and recognized all over the world. Still often seen in books and movies, they are also popular tattoo symbols thanks to their fascinating cultural heritage.
What is the symbol of ancient Egypt?
Ankh – A Popular Symbol. The ankh tattoo is one of the most recognizable symbols of ancient Egypt. Representing the sun, giving to the land all the energy and resources that it needs to thrive, this symbol also describes a connection between men and women and may even represent the key to life after death.
What is the meaning of the Eye of Horus tattoo?
Horus was the god of the sky, and the Eye of Horus tattoo is said to depict his left eye which gave the gift of life. Meanwhile, the Eye of Ra also once belonged to Horus.
What is the tattoo of a king?
Pharoah Tattoo – The Mark Of A King. An Egyptian king tattoo depicts a pharaoh since the pharaoh was the ruler of ancient Egypt, similar to one of today’s modern kings but considerably more powerful. In fact, the Pharoah in ancient times wasn’t only the ruler of the people, he was also seen as a god on Earth.
What does the Pharaoh's tattoo mean?
The pharaoh tattoo meaning is ultimate and supreme authority and power, indicating that the wearer is strong, powerful and is confident of their own abilities, being an excellent leader over others.
The Most Popular Egyptian Tattoos
In addition to the Egyptian gods and other related symbols, the most popular designs of this theme are tattoos of pyramids, sphinxes, animals like the scarab, or even pharaohs like Tutankhamun or Nefertiti. Among the most popular Egyptian tattoos, we find:
Most Common Egyptian Tattoos
The ancient Egyptians have fascinated many people around the world for decades and, nowadays, this world for decades and, nowadays, this fascination has moved to the world of tattoos. to the world of tattoos. The ancient Egyptians were the first known known culture that used tattoos, they had an alphabet based on images (the hieroglyphs).
Meaning and Symbolism of Egyptian Tattoos
Egyptian tattoos are characterized by representing a balance of power. It is very common to see the gods of this mythology and their main symbols tattooed on the skin. At that time, the gods were the center of the culture and people used tattoos as a way to connect with them.
Egyptian Tattoos for Men
Generally, Egyptian tattoos, have a delicate and harmonious aesthetic, and, as you have seen, with a deep meaning. Egyptian mythology has given origin to many symbols chosen for tattoos for both men and women. But usually, the Egyptian tattoos preferred by men are large and with many details. Usually on the arms, chest or back.
Egyptian Tattoos for Women
Women tend to choose smaller, more discreet tattoo designs. But that doesn't mean that their tattoos don't have the meaning they want to give them. Some examples of Egyptian tattoos that women usually choose are:
Small Egyptian Tattoos
Most of the Egyptian symbols are usually represented with small tattoos. These, in many cases are in discreet areas, although, as always, it depends on the taste of each one since a tattoo is personal. Below, you can see some examples of small Egyptian tattoos:
Large Egyptian Tattoos
In this case, tattoos are usually made with a lot of details, made with different types of lines and even giving them depth effect with shadows. Some examples can be: