Viking tattoos are another Norse-inspired ink that is extremely popular right now. If you’re considering getting one, here’s some visual inspiration. enjoy!
Despite their origins over 1,000 years ago, both the Viking Age and Norse mythology have a huge cultural impact today.
From the growing popularity of viking names to the reenactment societies all across the world and major movies and TV shows, Norse history is everywhere.
Viking tattoo inspiration
The mystique surrounding Viking culture and what we know about how they lived is still relevant today. Many people of Norwegian descent choose to get a tattoo to show their pride.
To show that pride, many people do much more than wear short-sleeved shirts. they use instagram and pinterest to showcase their ink. but the best designs can be hard to find.
So, on this page, we’ve rounded up some inspiring photographs of real Viking tattoos from people around the world. if you plan to get tattooed, this is the post for you!
Did Vikings have tattoos?
There is no hard evidence that tattoos were common in the Viking Age. because the skin is so fragile that it almost never survives burials.
We know from an Arab observer that the Rus, a Swedish Viking tribe believed to be the ancestors of the East Slavic peoples, had tattoos. he wrote:
every man has an axe, a sword and a knife and keeps them close at hand at all times. the swords are wide and grooved, frank type. all the men are tattooed from the nails to the neck with trees, figures, etc. dark green (or green or blue-black).
So while there isn’t hard proof, it does seem likely that artwork on the arm was a common feature.
Did the Vikings have colored tattoos?
Recent Danish archaeological research has revealed the color palettes Vikings used, ranging from deep reds and bright yellows to more earthy colors like greens and browns.
color symbolized power and wealth at the time, and it’s interesting to note that things were probably a lot more colorful than we first thought.
viking tattoo ideas
Okay, let’s get to it! We’ve searched the internet to bring you some of the best and most interesting tattoos out there.
Who would have thought that there were so many tattoos displayed on instagram? It is the perfect place to draw inspiration from the past:
how about this awesome? recognize the face? Of course, he is based on the American actor Travis Fimmel from the hit TV show Vikings. he plays the role of ragnar lothbrok, someone whose existence is widely debated.
katherine holman, writing in 2003, expressed this common opinion: “although his sons are historical figures, there is no evidence that ragnar himself ever lived, and he appears to be an amalgamation of several different historical figures and pure literary invention . ”
Norse mythology lends itself perfectly to Viking-inspired tattoos. animals, monsters and other nordic creatures feature prominently on instagram. I’ve seen many based on odin’s ravens, for example.
rune tattoos
Norse and other Germanic peoples began writing using runic alphabets, which have come to symbolize Norse culture and heritage.
The runes functioned as letters, but they were much more than that. each rune was a representation of some cosmic principle or power.
Of course, care must be taken when attempting to spell modern words in runes. there were many different variations of runic alphabets used in different parts of northern europe and during different time periods, and there is rarely a 1:1 match with modern letters.
The runes were carved on stone, wood, bone, or metal, rather than drawn in ink. this helps explain their sharp, angular shapes, which were well suited to being carved into hard surfaces.
Viking tattoos for women
Although many women stayed in towns and on farms, some sources suggest that some women may have been warriors. a woman who chose to fight as a warrior was called a shieldmaiden.
Another popular female image from Norse mythology is the Valkyrie, a female figure who decided who got to Valhalla after battle.
Viking ship illustrations
Instantly recognizable, Viking ships are a popular choice for tattoos. longship design evolved over many centuries, but was characterized by being elegant, long and narrow.
all were made of wood, with fabric (woven wool) sails, and had numerous details and carvings on the hull. the shallow draft hull was designed for speed and allowed for shallow water sailing and beach landings.
Choosing a Viking ship design also makes it easier to adapt and extend the tattoo later on. for example, with the wide ocean, birds, land, or even a battle.
the oseberg ship is an especially popular icon, and not just for body art. the famous carved curly decoration on the bow has recently been used as inspiration for the branding of the new airline norse atlantic airways.
the viking compass
another common design is the so-called viking compass, which is actually the vegvisir. while it is an ancient design, it does not date back to the Viking Age. The same goes for several popular designs, so be sure to do your research before submitting a design to ink!
do you have a viking tattoo? what is your favorite design if this article has inspired you, why not share it on pinterest? we have just the pin for that. just press those buttons to share on social networks.
