Fans of tribal and indigenous art forms or minimalist aesthetics are in for a treat! Hieroglyphic tattoos promise the raw appeal of ancient art, the creative scope of minimalist designs, and the ability to convey astonishing depth through symbolism. While there have been significant advances in decoding hieroglyphs, some of them still elude precise reasoning. It’s no surprise that those who want the art on their bodies to generate intrigue and interest enjoy a design in a semi-decoded language, like Egyptian hieroglyphs. If you’re one of them, let us help you out. Browse through our captivating collection of hieroglyphic tattoo ideas for your next tattoo session. Read on!
Meaning of hieroglyphic tattoos
Hieroglyphics are one of the earliest writing systems of a lost ancient Egyptian language. As such, each symbol represents a sound or letter and can be arranged in a variety of ways to form dynamic messages. While each set of hieroglyphic symbols conveys different meanings, the overall appeal of a hieroglyphic tattoo lies in its connection to the ancient civilization. The fact that it was once a living language that entire populations used to function is truly fascinating, considering that the culture associated with it is now long gone. Researchers have yet to fully decipher the symbols, making it a mysterious script with cryptic shapes that give it a magnetism that is hard to resist. Since most people can’t tell what these symbols are, the wearer can look like an interesting personality that any stranger would want to know more about. Furthermore, other ancient Egyptian symbols can be tattooed along with hieroglyphics to increase knowledge and enhance the look.
We’ve compiled a list of various hieroglyphic tattoo designs that incorporate a simplistic rendition of the script or combinations with other cultural symbols, for tattoo art that’s meant to make an impression. Take a look!
8 Cool Hieroglyphics Tattoo Ideas for Men and Women
The great thing about script style tattoos is that anyone, regardless of gender, can sign them; the same goes for hieroglyphics. Let’s take a look at some glamorous tattoo ideas below.
1. Cartouche Hieroglyphics Tattoo
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A cartouche is a piece of historical stone tablet with carved inscriptions, often found during archaeological excavations of ancient sites. Hieroglyphs often appear on such tablets, documenting the life and times of the people of ancient Egypt. So if you’re looking for an organic hieroglyphic design with some connection to archaeology, or if you want to express your personal ideology in ink, a cartouche can be an enchanting addition. The outline of the cartouche looks better if it has rough lines, which gives it a more authentic look.
2. Anubis and hieroglyphs tattoo
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Anubis is the ancient Egyptian God of the dead, depicted as a sleek, black jackal, or as an entity with the head of a jackal and a human body. He is the protector of souls and ruler of the underworld. Therefore, believers in the underworld or the afterlife may find some solace in the symbolism of this God. His presence also makes for a meaningful memorial tattoo with hieroglyphic inscriptions that can convey good wishes or prayers. Anubis dressed in royal regalia can also represent the riches that the afterlife holds in terms of wisdom and tranquility.
3. Cleopatra and hieroglyphics tattoo
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Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Egyptian dynasty and is an important figure in Egyptian history. While her name is synonymous with eternal beauty, that was the least of her achievements, with her notoriety as a femme fatale. She was known for her incredible intellect and powerful influence on political decision-making, which led to her becoming extremely adept at building strategic alliances. It is said that she fashioned herself into a living goddess, using clever stagecraft to convince her audience of her divinity. She was a multifaceted figure and is hailed by many as an icon of feminism. So if you want a strong female character at the heart of your hieroglyphic tattoo, you can do no better than Cleopatra with her heavily lined eyes, sharp features, and sleek black hair with blunt bangs in the front.
4. Eye of Horus and hieroglyphics tattoo
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The Eye of Horus is a sacred ancient Egyptian symbol, depicted as a human or falcon eye with stylized, distinct markings; it is also known as the left wedjat eye. This eye carries deep symbolism. According to myth, Horus’ left eye was gouged out in battle and later reassembled by his mother, only to sacrifice it again to resurrect his father Osiris. This makes his eye a symbol of sacrifice, resilience, healing, loyalty, and protection. Therefore, this Eye of Horus tattoo can easily represent concepts such as love for a father figure or family, or to symbolize the sacrifices you make for loved ones. Or it can simply be adorned as a simple magical talisman that protects against evil.
5. Eye of Ra and Egyptian Hieroglyphics Tattoo
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The Eye of Ra is considered to be an extension of the enigmatic powers of the ancient Egyptian sun god Ra. Also called the right wedjat eye, it is often combined with the Eye of Horus, which is formed in its reflection. Although the Eye of Ra is most often associated with the solar disk, it is also thought to represent an independent Goddess. It is believed to symbolize procreation, aggressive protection, manifestation of prayers, and an all-seeing protector. This Egyptian tattoo combined with a hieroglyphic prayer/religious text and the names of loved ones can express the wearer’s strong desire to protect all they hold dear.
6. Minimalist Hieroglyphics Tattoo
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Hieroglyphics can be designed very easily in minimalist styles, as they are a writing system that can be adapted to the wearer’s aesthetic vision. Of course, knowing the basics of writing is a must in order to create a design that is both meaningful and beautiful. It could be the name of someone special or a phrase from Egyptian mythology that conveys your attachment, fondness or interest in the language and what it represents. Minimalist tattoos with fine lines done with precise and neat strokes can look polished, but slightly rough lines can give an organic look. The wrist, back of the hand, upper arm, spine and shoulder blades are a few places that work great for such tattoos.
7. Scarab Beetle and Egyptian Hieroglyphics Tattoo
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Scarab beetles, more commonly known as dung beetles, played an important role in ancient Egyptian burial rituals. These beetles are believed to be protectors of deceased souls and their guides in the afterlife, showing them the way to their next life. They have often been found as small clay or stone talismans along with the mummified bodies of important people in Egyptian history. This scarab tattoo with a prayer written in hieroglyphics can make for a thoughtful memorial tattoo. The beetle can also be artistically stylized as shown in the image above, as it used to be a type of funeral ornament that could be designed to look beautiful to meet aesthetic requirements.
8. Egyptian God Horus and Hieroglyphics Tattoo
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Horus is one of the most important gods that appear in several ancient Egyptian documents, and was worshipped until at least prehistoric Egyptian times. He is depicted as a falcon in hieroglyphs or as a figure with the head of a falcon and the body of a man in elaborate illustrations. He was worshiped as the God of leadership, kingship, protection, healing, and the entity of the sun and sky. To incorporate the symbolism of this God into a hieroglyphic tattoo, you can use the corresponding hieroglyphic symbol, as well as an illustrative portrait of a falcon or a half-falcon half-human figure. It can convey the wearer’s will to be a leader and protector of his people, always taking care of them.
Hieroglyphic tattoos are an aesthetically pleasing and clever way to encode deep personal meanings and ideologies into body art that can be displayed without immediately revealing its secrets. While the unique shapes of hieroglyphs have an unparalleled charm, they can also be combined with other important ancient Egyptian symbols such as mythological gods, historical figures, or sacred cultural objects to amplify their meanings. While these hieroglyphs look best in black ink, we recommend combining them with colorful versions of their associated elements, such as gold and the vibrant embellishments found on royal figures, or a beautifully ornate amulet. Remember to do thorough research to understand what individual symbols mean to ensure you use the right one to best represent you.
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