While creepy crawlies may cause many people to run for the hills, there are those who find beauty in these creatures. The colors, the armor, the abilities – insects and arachnids have their own special place in the animal kingdom and even have their own symbolic value for humanity.
One arachnid that has deep symbolism and features in tattoo design is the scorpion.
The Meaning Of Scorpion Tattoos
If you’re looking for tattoo inspiration, diving into the natural world is a great route to take. Natural environments and the animals that call them home are vast and varied, and represent many values that humans often hold dear.
If strength is a value that holds special meaning to you, by extension, a scorpion tattoo could be the body art choice for you.
According to Tat Ring, a scorpion tattoo,
“…could symbolize strength and the ability to take on anyone regardless of their size, status, or position. This is because even though the scorpion is small, it is not afraid to fight and defend itself.”
Further to strength, a scorpion tattoo can represent protection.
Scorpions hold an important role in Egyptian mythology, most notably in helping the goddess, Isis. World History tells the story of seven scorpion bodyguards that protected Isis while she was fleeing from her brother and husband’s murderer, Set.
She was traveling undercover with seven huge scorpions courtesy of the goddess, Selket, to keep her son, Horus, away from his murderous uncle.
Selket was the Egyptian goddess of the dead and was in charge of protecting the canopic jar in which the intestines of the deceased were stored after the embalming process. Her symbolic animal was the scorpion, hence the unusual bodyguards of Isis during her flight.
Scorpion Tattoo Ideas
There are many different styles to choose from for a scorpion tattoo. You could opt for a minimalist design with the bare essentials for details – this can work well for a scorpion tattoo, as the type of animal it is will still be obvious with only a few lines.
If you’re looking for more layers and details, here are a few ideas:
Scorpion And Rose Tattoo
A rose can add another dimension to a scorpion tattoo. This flower and this animal have similar characteristics: While both small, both can cause harm – roses with their thorns, and scorpions with their stings and venom.
“Both the scorpion and the rose should be admired from a distance. Getting a tattoo with a scorpion and rose means that you are someone who cannot be judged and that people should be wary when trying to get close to you, either physically or spiritually,”
Tat Ring
Scorpio Zodiac Sign Tattoo
In astrology, the sign of Scorpio is represented by the Scorpius constellation. This constellation got its name from an ancient Greek myth,
“…Orion tried to ravish the goddess Artemis and she sent the scorpion to do away with him,”
Constellation Guide
Scorpio is known as a water sign, and those who fall into this spectrum of astrology are said to be passionate, powerful, and misunderstood.
If you feel connected to your Scorpio zodiac sign, you could add particular elements to a scorpion tattoo such as the constellation that governs the sign or water to acknowledge the element associated with this sign.
Scorpion Tribal Tattoo
Tribal tattoos have their roots in the early history of the practice of tattooing in Polynesian cultures.
“Polynesian people show that they were able to endure pain by getting their skin marked and were through rites of passage to become accepted members of their society. Therefore, tattoos were part of a person’s identity as visible signs of rank and ancestral blood,”
The Collector
As such, it is never a good idea to get a tribal tattoo without doing in depth research into the meaning behind the symbols you’re getting.
It’s not only a rite of passage and a way of paying homage to ancestors, but also for spiritual protection.
“When rendered in the tribal style, scorpion tattoos are often thought to be able to ward off evil spirits. Generally speaking, because of their fierce, attacking nature, scorpion tattoos are sometimes meant to be protective of the wearer,”
Custom Tattoo Design
Red Scorpion Tattoo
While traditional tattoos are done in black ink, you could opt for red tattoo ink for your scorpion design to drive home the theme of passion.
Red is a bold color that demands attention, while at the same time acts as a warning – the perfect shade to accompany the wariness that comes when seeing a scorpion.
However, while red ink tattoos are certainly eye-catching, it is important to know what you’re getting into with a red ink tattoo.
Red ink isn’t made up of the same components as black ink, so the reaction you experience might not be the same. Red tattoo ink has been known to cause itching.
“…red ink tattoos tend to itch long after the tattoo has healed completely. Some people experience itchiness years after they’ve gotten a tattoo. That is because the body simply never gets used to the ingredients in the ink and the skin develops particular sensitivity to a red tattoo,”
Saved Tattoo
To try and mitigate the risk that comes with red ink, do an allergy test before getting your tattoo.
Not only that, but red ink is difficult to remove with laser tattoo removal, so do the best you can to ensure you’re choosing a tattoo design that is deeply meaningful to you so that the chances of you regretting it later is low.
Protection, strength, and feeling misunderstood – these themes are deeply rooted in the human condition. As such, it is little wonder as to why scorpions have played a starring role in mythology and folklore, and have evolved into a meaningful tattoo choice.