Viking Tattoo Ideas and Designs
Olga is an avid tattoo enthusiast. She has been an online writer for over nine years.
This article will provide lots of Viking tattoo examples to help you get inspired for your next body art project!
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What Do Viking Tattoos Mean?
If you are at all familiar with Celtic and Scandinavian heritage, then you know that the Vikings were fierce and mighty warriors, who commonly sported long-braided beards, corneal helmets and . . . some wicked tattoos as well.
These tattoos often served as reminders inked directly on their body to represent the values of courage in battle, devotion to family, and an adherence to the Viking ways of life.
That makes a Viking tattoo a great choice for those who want to depict the virtues of courage, heroism, strength, and loyalty.
How to Style Your Viking Tattoo
- Realistic vs. Fantastical: While most Viking tattoos tend towards the hyper-realistic, there's plenty of great ones out there that are a bit more colorful and cartoonish and even veer more towards fantasy. Going with the latter also means you can go with some something like an undead Viking!
- Alone vs. Group: Though it's pretty common to have a lone Viking braving the cruel world, groups of Vikings can make some really stunning body art!
Common Colors
Most of those who get Viking tattoos get them in black or in dark shades. It's not the kind of design that would look good in hot pink.
One other option would be to use a brown-red palette scale of hues for this kind of tattoo. That might give it the "mud and blood" look that Vikings were often known for.
Colorful tattoos of that kind tend to be a bit unusual. I'll show you some examples below, so you can make up your own mind about what you prefer
Common Locations for Viking Tattoos
The #1 spot for a Viking tattoo is the arm, and the upper arm specifically.
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There is nothing more intimidating than seeing a vicious-looking Viking tattoo across a 28" bicep or a well-developed shoulder.
Other possible locations include the back—which is a wide space and so could fit a larger and more detailed tattoo—and the leg, which is where women tend to get Viking tattoos if they get them.
Done right, a massive chest tattoo can also be super impressive.
What Goes Well With a Viking Tattoo?
If you have an idea of how you want your Viking to look but don't want them to be lonely, here are some suggestions for what to pair them up with:
- Weapons: What would a warrior be without their weapon? Classic choices include Thor's hammer, spears, axes, double-sided axes and, of course, the double axes.
- Animals: Even solitary warriors can have animal companions sometimes. Odin's crows are probably the most common ones, but ravens, wolves, boars and serpents are popular as well.
- Symbols and Text: Adding in regional- and period-appropriate symbols and text are also great ways of rounding out your Viking tattoo. There are so many different kinds of possibilities too!
- War Ships: If your Viking is more of a seafarer, why not provide them with a majestic ship to captain?
More Viking-Related Tattoo Inspiration
- Powerful Warrior Tattoos
- Warrior Tattoo Designs and Meanings
- Boat and Ship Tattoos
- Raven Tattoo Meanings, Designs, and Ideas
That's All for Now!
Hope you enjoyed this short introduction. You are welcome to leave your comments.
© 2013 Olga Zitner
Comments
Joosep on June 02, 2013:
One eyed viking? seriously? Allfather, Odin,Wotan, any of those ring a bell? the grey wanderer?
