Viking tattoos have been in the game for a very long time, even though it has never been proven that Vikings had tattoos, most people like to believe they adorned their skin, myself included!
We don’t have many historical facts about Vikings since they barely wrote anything down, especially when it comes to ‘aesthetic‘ things, so to say.
They didn’t write down things like hairstyles, fashion, and tattoos included. They did love their symbols and drawings tho!
They also loved their gods and goddesses!
Today we have many facts on both Nordic symbols and deities that dominate the tattoo industry when it comes to Viking tattoos.
In this article, I’ll show you some of the best (in my opinion) tattoos that showcase the most popular deities, along with the most prominent symbols from Nordic culture!
Viking Deity Tattoos
Vikings were very interested in their deities and even today Norse mythology is very popular and interesting!
Some of the most prominent gods and goddesses include:
- Odin– king of the gods and god of wisdom.
- Valkyrie– a female warrior and a messenger of the gods.
- Hel– the goddess of the underworld.
- Loki– a trickster god, he is neither god nor bad since his only goal is to create chaos.
- Thor– the god of thunder and of the free people.
- Freyja– the goddess of love, beauty and fertility.
Along with them being prominent, they all come with a set of symbols that can be incorporated into tattoos!
Odin – King of the Gods and God of Wisdom
Odin has many names and he is the king of Gods and wisdom. Apart from that he is also the God of War and Death.
Warriors who die in battle are taken to Valhalla. He is depicted to have one eye because he sacrificed one eye to be able to see everything that happens!
1. Portrait of Odin
2. Odin Surrounded by Trees
3. Odin and His Raven with the Symbol of Protection
4. Odin with a Face Scar
5. Odin and a Stag
Valkyrie – Female Warrior and a Messenger of the Gods
A Valkyrie is not just one woman, it’s a group of warrior women (Valkyries). They are depicted to be riding through a battlefield or watching the battlefield from above on flying horses!
These warrior women are messengers between humans and gods and they are believed to be fearless, brave, honorable and skilled in combat!
6. Portrait of a Valkyrie
7. Cartoon Interpretation of a Valkyrie
8. A Valkyrie with Runes
9. Realism Portrait of a Valkyrie
10. Valkyrie with Raven
Hel – the Goddess of the Underworld
Hel is the queen of the underworld in Norse mythology. The daughter of Loki and giantess Angrboda resides in her kingdom, Niflheim, which was divided into several sections.
11. Hel with Broken Horn
12. Thick-Lined Hel Tattoo
13. Hel from the Underworld
14. Potrait of Hel with Half-Skull Face
15. Queen Hel on Her Throne
Loki- the Trickster God
Loki is a trickster god, neither good nor bad and his only goal is to create chaos. He is able to change his appearance and sex.
We have a modern depiction of Loki in the Avengers movies today!
16. Portrait of Loki
17. Loki Runes
18. Loki from the Movies
19. Anime-Style Loki
20. Loki with Snakes and Spear
Thor – God of Thunder and Free People
Thor is a hammer-wielding god, he doesn’t go anywhere without it! He is able to summon storms, lightning, and thunder.
He is also the god of the free people and the son of Odin!
21. Portrait of Thor
22. Thor with His Hammer
23. Thor with Ship
24. Thor and His Silhouette
25. Angry Thor and Symbol of Valknut
Freyja – the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Fertility
Freyja is a Norse goddess associated with love and fertility. She is the sister and female counterpart of Freyr.
Apart from that, she was also credited for the evil act of teaching witchcraft!
26. Portrait of Freyja
27. Freya with Cats
28. Fabolous Freya
29. Goddess Freya with Symbols and Runes on Her Face
30. Freya with Flowers in Her Hair and Cats
Viking Symbols and Their Meanings
Vikings greatly appreciated their symbols and while many remain undeciphered today, there’s still a plethora of symbols that we understand!
They were used to portray their deities, beliefs, and myths, so they obviously relied on them very much!
We covered their most important deities, now let’s take a look at the symbols they relied on the most!
Thor’s Hammer – Mjölnir
Thor uses his hammer to wield power over thunder and lightning. It is one of the most feared weapons in Norse mythology because of its ability to level mountains!
From movies, we know that when he throws his hammer it always comes back to him. It was very popular to wear Thor’s hammer as a protection amulet!
31. Thor’s Hammer and Axe
32. Thor’s Hammer and Raven Munnin
Yggdrasil – Tree of Life
It is said that this mythological tree holds the nine realms of existence!
33. Tree of Life with Runes
34. Geometric Yggdrasil
35. Yggdrasil with Runes Around It
Valknut – Viking Symbol for Death in Battle
The Valkunt symbol, also known as Hrungnir’s Heart or Heart of the Slain is still a mysterious symbol.
Its true meaning is still widely debated, but it’s most often associated with death in battle.
36. Outlined Valknut
37. Etched into Skin Valknut
38. Simple Valknut
The Helm of Awe – Symbol of Protection
This is one of the most powerful protective symbols for Vikings. It is said that it was drawn between the eyes to scare off enemies and protect them from the abuse of power.
39. The Helm of Awe with Runes
40. Hand Drawn Helm of Awe
41. Simple Helm of Awe
Huginn and Munnin – The Twin Ravens
Out of the two ravens, Huginn is depicted as memory and Munnin as thought. They are Odin’s ravens, so he sends them out every day to report back on important events.
42. Realistic Twin Ravens
43. Twin Raven Skulls
44. Cartoon Twin Ravens
Web of Wyrd – Matrix of Fate
The Matrix of Fate represents past, present and future events in a person’s life. Vikings believed that everything we do today will be reflected in tomorrow.
45. Hand Drawn Web of Wyrd
46. Shaded Web of Wyrd
Gungnir – Spear of Odin
This spear was created by dwarves and it was given to Odin as a gift from Loki. It is precise and never misses its target and much like Mjölnir, it comes back when thrown somewhere!
47. Odin and His Spear
48. Ornate Spear of Odin
Vegvisir – Runic Compass
Like any other compass, this one was used to show the way back home but also to protect seamen on their journey. It was believed that Vegvisir was a talisman for good luck and protection.
It was also believed to be a spiritual compass. A person who has lost themselves and their faith could use the Vegvisir to gain confidence and get back on the right track!
49. Detailed Vegvisir
50. Vegvisir with Runes
51. Vegvisir with Odin
52. Huge Back Piece Vegvisir
53. Vegvisir with the Tree of Life and the Triple Horn of Odin
54. All-Black Vegvisir
55. Dragon Devouring Itself and Vegvisir
This one represents the circle of destruction and rebirth.
The Vegvisir can also be a spiritual compass, so the meaning behind this tattoo may be that someone is leaving their old self behind and starting a new and better life!
56. Tiny Wrist Vegvisir
57. Fine Line Vegvisir
Other Viking Tattoos
Under this category, we have many other Viking tattoos that are either blends of everything we mentioned above or they just draw inspiration from the Viking era!
58. Sköll the Wolf
According to Norse mythology Sköll the Wolf chases the Sun in her chariot across the sky.
59. Nordic Dragon
Dragons are common throughout many traditions and religions. In Nordic tradition, they are seen as symbols of power, luck, and, weirdly, evil.
60. Unknown Norse Goddess
61. Plethora of Nordic Runes
62. Blacked Out Raven Skull
63. Viking Sleeve
64. Finger Runes
65. Norse Dragon with Small Protection Symbol
66. Viking with Moon Phases and Axe
67. Valhalla Calling
68. Single Raven with Runes
69. Witcher-Based Tattoo
70. Celtic Armbands
71. Viking Seer
72. The Way of Runes
73. Nordic Armbands
74. Fox Skull with Runes
75. Odin Hand Tattoo
76. Tree of Life
77. Vegvisir with Animal Skull
78. Simple Finger Runes
79. Simple Finger and Nail Tattoo
80. Wardruna Viking Band Logo
Lover of good music, reading, astrology and making memories with friends and spreading positive vibes! 🎶✨I aim to inspire others to find meaning and purpose through a deeper understanding of the universe’s energies.