Egyptian Tattoos

All Things Egypt

Why do so many of us have such a fascination for ancient Egyptian culture? Admittedly, the architecture is fascinating; just picture the pyramids or the lonely Sphinx. Scientists still aren't certain how they were built or even by whom.

The ancient Egyptian obsession with the afterlife is also quite intriguing, filled with magical amulets like the Ankh and the scarab. From gods, goddesses and pharaohs, to records recorded in fanciful hieroglyphics, there's something of interest for everyone. The sheer richness of Egyptian society has never quite been laid to rest, because so much of modern society is rooted in it.

Egyptian Tattoos

Here's a look at some of the most popular Egyptian tattoos:

An ankh carved in stone.

The Ankh

The Ankh is one of the most sought after Egyptian tattoos. This modified cross is thought to be a symbol for the afterlife, a theme that permeates every avenue of ancient Egyptian history.

Gods and Goddesses

Here we find a cast of hundreds. Many of these deities were half human, and half animal, so it's no wonder that they have such an ability to capture the imagination.

• Anubis was the dog-headed God of the afterlife.
• Horus, the hawk god had the body of a human and the head of a hawk. The "Eye of Horus", sometimes referred to as the "All-Seeing Eye", is a single penetrating eyeball, and one of the most popular Egyptian tattoos.
• Bastet the cat goddess holds a particular fascination for cat lovers across the globe.

Kings and Queens

There are a few true standouts in this group.

• Ramses II was once the single most featured face in Egyptian architecture. His strong features are still considered the ultimate pharaoh tattoo design.
• Tutankhamen, otherwise known as the "Boy King", has also captured the world's imagination. Although so little is known about his person, the riches of his tomb gave us the first real viewing of the wealth of an Egyptian king.
• Egyptian queens Cleopatra and Nefertiti have both been thought of as standards of feminine beauty.

The Phoenix

This mythical black bird was alleged to have risen out of it's own ashes to begin life anew. Many tattoo devotees use it as a sign of rebirth, or overcoming extreme hardships in their life.

The Sphinx

The Sphinx is a figure with the head of a man set upon the body of a human, and is perhaps the Egyptian version of the Celtic Griffon. No one knows for sure what this huge stone figure signifies, but many believe it was meant to be a guardian over the king who once laid in the nearby pyramid.

Pyramids

There is no other symbol that speaks so clearly of Egypt than these amazing stone monuments. Some believe that the shape and orientation of each pyramid gives it some sort of power or energy.

Egyptian Tats Today

We've only scratched the surface of inspirations for Egyptian tattoos, but you can easily see why these images remain so popular in modern society. Perhaps our fascination with the denizens of ancient Egypt will endure as long as the pyramids themselves?