Germanic Pagan Tattoos

Source: darksuntattoo.deviantart.com

Oftentimes it seems that Germanic Paganism and tattoos go well together. Scholars tell us that the Germanic tribes of the east (eg, first the Goths, then the Rus; both peoples said to have originated in the general region of modern day Sweden) were partial to tattoos.* We know from the mummified remains of Indo-Europeans buried in Siberia in the 5th century BCE that ancient tattoos could be beautifully decorative and detailed.** Thus it is conceivable that some ancient and medieval Germanic Pagans (from the east at least?) looked a bit like this fellow in the picture on the right ->

It seems that these days most Germanic Pagan tattoos are either of Odin, Thor or Mjölnir. In my searches I came across very few tattoos of Germanic Goddesses or of any other Germanic Gods. Fittingly, animals in a Celtic-Viking design seem to be popular (though perhaps not always explicitly Pagan, unless they are ravens in pairs or Sleipnir), as are runic inscriptions and Yggdrasil, the world tree. Here follows the best of what I was able to find after countless hours of sifting through online images of Germanic Pagan tattoos.

Odin / Oden / Odino / Wodan / Woden / Wotan / Wodanaz 

Source: fenix42.deviantart.com

Source: skinandbone.dk

Source: lvmenes.blogspot.com

Source: tattoo-bewertung.de

Source: uptowntattoo.com

Source: tattoopins.com/346/odin-tattoo-pictures

Source: tattoopins.com/342/odin-for-tattoos

Source: romanpagan.blogspot.com (thanks to Scott)

Source: Atgørvimaðr: pinterest.com/bealeknappe

(Note that I removed the original tattoo of Wotan I had posted, which was similarly based on an ancient Vendel helmet plate design, because even though it had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with hate an ignorant person might take offence. I live in an authoritarian state where the premier has openly stated we do not have free speech; NSW now arrests people for tattoos)

Odinist Women / Valkyries / Valkyrier / Valkyrior / Walküren / Walkuren 

Source: flickr.com/photos/hognell

Source: gallery.freakportal.com

Source: cattattoo.com

Source: whipshader.com

Source: ottomade.com

Odin's Ravens / Huginn / Hugin / Muninn / Munin

Source: dailydoseoftattoos.com

Source: tattooconventionsnow.com

Source: tattoo-bewertung.de (note the triskele in the centre, associated
with Celtic Paganism, but also more broadly with Paganism in general)

Norns / Norner / Nomen

Source: violet-fire-tattoo.deviantart.com

Source: flickr.com/photos/hognell

Freyja / Freya / Freja / Frija

Source: tattoofairy.com

Freyr / Ing / Yngvi

Source: pinterest.com/jefffishburn/boar/

Tyr / Tiwaz / Tiw

Source: meatshop-tattoo.deviantart.com

Thor / Tor / Thunor / Donar / Donner

Source: darksuntattoo.deviantart.com

Source: darksuntattoo.deviantart.com

Source: pinterest.com/pin/148055906473267956/ (based on album art for Amon Amarth)

Source: romanpagan.blogspot.com (thanks to Scott)

Source: artetattoo.com.br

Mjöllnir / Mjölner / Mjølner / Mjølne / Thor's Hammer / Tors Hammare

Source: skinandbonetattoo.blogspot.com

Source: skinandbonetattoo.blogspot.com

Source: tattoowise.com

Source: sobie182.deviantart.com

Source: maizy138.deviantart.com

Source: psykopathm.deviantart.com

Source: profile.ultimate-guitar.com/Firenze

Source: webcontemporary.com

Source: romanpagan.blogspot.com (thanks to Scott)

Runic Inscriptions / Runes / Runor / Runealfabet / Runen

Source: loja.banner-link.com.br

Source: meatshop-tattoo.deviantart.com

Source: tattoodonkey.com

Source: norsemyth.org

Source: nirvanaoftime.deviantart.com

Source: tattoo-bewertung.de

Source: meatshop-tattoo.deviantart.com

Source: meatshop-tattoo.deviantart.com

Source: Valhalla's Glory (Facebook)

Yggdrasil / World Tree / Världsträdet / Weltenbaum

Source: arcanis-lupus.deviantart.com

Source: faraaer.ro

Source: flickr.com/photos/hognell

Irminsul (the World Tree of the Saxons)

Source: checkoutmyink.com

Valknut

Source: 405th.com

Triple Horns of Odin 

Source: tattoopins.com/859/horns-of-odin-tattoo

Icelandic Staves / Sigils / Aegishjalmur / Vegvisir / Helm of Awe

Source: tumblr.com/tagged/aegishjalmur

Source: tumblr.com/tagged/aegishjalmur

Source: tuttotattoo.com

* vanishingtattoo.com & nordicway.com
** siberiantimes.com; see below for an example of one of these tattoos:

5th century BCE tattoo. Source: johnhawks.net

See also some of my other posts on Germanic Heathenry including the posts hyperlinked below:

• Ancient Germanic Tattoos and Cannabis Use
• Fate in the Germanic Tradition
• Freyja – Love Goddess
• Freyr – Lord of Plenty
• Germanic Beliefs Regarding the Afterlife
• The Germanic God and Gods of Fire (includes discussion on Thor, Loki and Sol/Sunna)
• Germanic Values – Advice from the Hávamál
• Odin – God of the Fearless
• Valkyries – Odinic Women
  

Written by M' Sentia Figula (aka Freki), find me at neo polytheist