Aztec Tattoos

Aztec tattoos are reflects of an ancient civilization that existed in Mexico in the 14th and 15th centuries. Their intricate designs and complex mythology has left a lasting impression on the tattoo world.

Ancient Aztec pyramid ruins

The Aztec culture was based in tradition, including the arts and education, as well as various ceremonial and religious practices. They held many different designs and shapes as sacred, as many cultures have held their tribal art. Art was extremely important to the Aztecs, with both female and male children being taught the crafts of pottery making and working with precious metals and stones. The many recurring themes in Aztec art, such as the Aztec calendar, make excellent designs for tattoos.

Tattoos played a large role in the ancient Aztec culture as well. Tattoos were often used in rituals, such as those dedicated to the god Uitzilopochtle. These tattoos were drawn onto the bodies of children (specifically on the wrist, chest and stomach) in order to show the children's devotion to this god. Every Aztec tattoo was done in a specific symbolic pattern, depending on the god being honored.

Many Aztec tattoos are based around themes of the sun. The sun was incredibly important to the Aztecs because it was considered the giver of life. The Aztec calendar was based around the sun as well, and many images from these calendars include a sun with grim facial features. Some imagery used in Aztec tattoos has lost its meaning, because the Aztecs did not write using our alphabet. Instead, they adapted an ancient language known as Nahuatl to describe some of the symbols, and this language has not been fully translated to this day.

If you'd like to have an authentic Aztec tat, there are several resources you can use to find an image that's suitable. Below are a list of websites that can help you out in the quest for a perfect Aztec symbol:

• The Wikipedia entry for the Aztecs offers a large amount of information about Aztec culture.
• Tattoo Johnny offers a few Aztec sun tattoo designs.
• The Tattoo Gallery of Designs offers seekers of different Aztec images, such as birds, a place to find the perfect tat.
• LuckyFish Art offers both Mexican Mayan art and Aztec art for your new tattoo.

Once you've chosen an image for your Aztec tattoo (if it isn't already made into Tattoo Flash) it's a good idea to check in with your tattoo shop, so they can draw up your tattoo ahead of time. Many tattoo artists are more than happy to try their hand at creating a type of tat they haven't worked with before.

Cultural tattoos, such as Aztec-themed tats, are a great way to show off your heritage or interest in a specific culture.

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