The journey through middle-earth was fraught with challenges and great battles for a pair of hobbits. they met great friends in elves, dwarves, humans and even a wizard. As the battle unfolded on the big movie screen left everyone in awe, the actors behind the characters got matching tattoos.
A Lord of the Rings tattoo symbolizes more than just fan worship; it is often done as a symbol of deep-seated friendship.
While some opt for the ink of their favorite character, others opt for symbols dedicated to their friends.
The dedicated friendship that Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins shared can be reflected in the ink of JRR Tolkien’s universe. Best friends often get matching tattoos to symbolize a deep brotherhood. Quotes from the book and movie series are frequent tattoo works by Tolkien fans. some men even go so far as to write the quotes in what is supposed to be the elvish language.
another common theme of tolkien’s lore is the tree of gondor. the simplicity of the design, coupled with the importance of the tree, makes it a popular tattoo design.
the scope of the hobbit and lord of the rings series of books and movies is so wide and varied that it leaves room for fans to get some tolkien body art and still be unique.
For someone looking for character designs, a large space should be reserved to ensure a better quality tattoo.
1. tattoos of a ring
Author jrr tolkien created an entire universe and revealed it to the world in 1954 through the lord of the rings series of books. Within this fantastic realm, there were men, elves, dwarves, hobbits, and goblins. there were also wizards and trolls, witches and dragons, but the power over all the races of middle earth was a magic ring.
forged by the evil sauron, it can render the wearer invisible, but also inevitably corrupts anyone who holds it until it eventually returns to its unholy master.
The quote, “one ring to rule them all,” is at the heart of this story, and it makes sense that fans of the series would choose this item for tattoos. this ring is the perfect tattoo design, thanks to the depth of detail that can be captured on the mirrored surface of this malevolent amulet.
2. sauron eye tattoos
after being defeated by the armies of men and elves, sauron was vanquished and spent a thousand years as a formless evil, inactive but not dead. since the one ring was not destroyed, neither was sauron. he eventually returned as a disembodied eye, an all-seeing eye, burning endlessly near the mount of fate and constantly searching for the ring.
The eye of sauron tattoo is an excellent work of art, thanks to the different textures and tones used to create this ultimate villain. For those with a darker sensibility, the eye of sauron tattoo also provides an opportunity to incorporate some of the other villains and scenery from the series.
3. frodo tattoos and the community
At the heart of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is a battle between good and evil, dark and light; And in this world, the forces of good come in the form of a gentle hobbit from the ultimate bag. Frodo Baggins, the unsuspecting protagonist of our story, along with three other hobbits, two men, a dwarf, an elf and a wizard, embark on an adventure that confronts the essence of evil. Together, this fellowship of the ring embarks on a quest across middle-earth to destroy the one ring in the fires of mordor.
community is a great idea for a tattoo, thanks to the deep connections many fans have to the different characters and the actors who portrayed them.
4. the witch king of angmar tattoos
in tolkien’s universe, the ringwraiths, or nazgul, were the leaders of the dark armies, and the witch king of angmar was their leader and second in command to sauron. these demons were once mortal men. Corrupted by Sauron, each was given one of the nine rings of power to serve him; they are drawn to the one ring by deep magic.
These evil creatures are excellent for tattoos thanks to their striking faces; they wear black helmets with distinctive crowns, black armor and capes, while their foul winged creatures can be incorporated into larger tattoos.
5. scenes from the lord of the rings tattoos
for any big fan of the series, there is a wealth of material to draw inspiration from for tattoos, from the ancient tree dwellers known as the ents to the epic scenes of trolls from caves, castles and the siege weapons from the battle of helm’s abyss. there is enough material to complete dozens of full body tattoos.
Scenes from this epic series are also great for tattoos, especially large, detailed pieces, thanks to the powerful interplay between light and dark created in these stories. A savvy tattoo artist can create contrast by incorporating scenes and characters from both sides of the story, creating visually pleasing, detailed tattoos that showcase the epic struggle between good and evil.
6. gollum tattoos
Gollum, one of the most intriguing characters in the entire series, is flawed but complicated. Once a friendly hobbit-like creature, Gollum had the unfortunate luck of stumbling upon the One Ring. as he holds the ring, all of his life fades into an unrecognizable shell of his former self, living only to covet the one ring, which he calls “my precious.” One day he drops the ring and finds a new owner named Bilbo, Frodo’s uncle.
gollum is a great subject for tattoos for a couple of reasons. First of all, her ghoulish appearance provides an opportunity to capture all the little details and imperfections on her face and body. Gollum is also interesting as a character, definitely a villain, but a relatable one. he elicits equal parts contempt and pity, making him one of the most complex characters in the series.
7. balrog tattoos
A balrog was an ancient creature of fire and shadow that existed long before the age of men, dwelling deep in the darkest places of middle earth. While fighting one of these foul creatures in the Mines of Moria, the wizard Gandalf the Gray was cast into the depths, only to be reborn from a crucible of fire as Gandalf the White. this was one of the most powerful scenes, visually encapsulating the battle between good and evil that is at the core of these stories.
balrogs make excellent body art due to the opportunity to create a stark contrast between the red, orange, and yellow tones of fire and the deep black that engulfs these beasts.
8. the lord of the rings swords
There are several different swords in these stories, many of which have specific powers; many even have names. Frodo’s sword, called the Stinger, was given to him by his Uncle Bilbo and glows blue when orcs are near. Aragorn, heir to Isildur, had Anduril, a sword forged from shards of Narsil, the sword used by Isildur and broken by Sauron a thousand years earlier.
These swords make great tattoos, not only because of the inherently interesting shapes and contours of these stylized blades, but also because of the deep meaning they carry in stories.
9. gandalf tattoos
Of the hundreds of characters jrr tolkien brought to life in his beloved stories, there may not be one as popular and influential as gandalf. The last of the wizards to venture into Middle-earth, Gandalf was a relic of ages past when different forces ruled the world. He first appears as Gandalf the Grey, sometimes acting deceptively dazed or sleepy. After fighting a Balrog, sacrificing himself to save the fellowship of the ring, he returns as Gandalf the White.
Thanks to the unmistakable countenance of Sir Ian McKellen (who played Gandalf in the movies), as well as his distinctive pointed wizard hat, Gandalf makes an excellent subject for tattoos.
10. ink inspired by the hobbit and j.r.r tolkien
Originally written as a companion text aimed at a younger audience, The Hobbit earned its place in Tolkien’s mythology. With interesting characters like the thirteen dwarfs who tie up Bilbo on an unexpected journey, and the vile visage of the dragon Smaug, who sat on a mountain of gold, there’s plenty of text and imagery to mine. Some people choose to skip the dramatic characters and exciting scenes and show their love and dedication to the series by tattooing Jr. Tolkien himself on his body.
If you enjoyed these Lord of the Rings tattoos, click the links below to see more galleries dedicated to literary ink inspiration elements.
- book tattoo ideas
- eye of sauron tattoo ideas
- deathly hallows tattoo designs
