If you have a deep interest in the concept of the afterlife and your sense of style is defined by a gothic or dark aesthetic, then an underworld tattoo would be the perfect permanent accessory to complement your personality. The underworld tattoo is a broad subject area that consists of various symbolic elements and figures, and the entire tone of your story would change depending on the mythology you draw inspiration from for your tattoo. The best part is that all of these subjects are versatile and can evoke the deepest, darkest fears and fantasies. To help you decide on a design style, we have compiled a list of some unique and enchanting tattoo ideas later in this article. So sit back and read on to explore the exciting world of underworld tattoos.
Meaning of Underworld Tattoos
Underworld tattoos are meant to capture the viewer’s imagination in one glance, thanks to the supernatural themes they encompass, particularly in regards to the afterlife. It conveys the wearer’s interest in the possibility of life after death, and sheds some light on the way their mind works. The overall meaning of an underworld tattoo can vary depending on what it depicts and how an individual relates to it. However, these tattoos can generally convey the following meanings:
Belief in the existence of multiple verses, especially one in which the unliving dwell, or one in which all souls go once the body they previously occupied collapses for good. Strength, ferocity, and resilience, depending on the entity depicted in the underworld tattoo. For example, the God of the Underworld is eternal and continues to live even as human souls continue to be born, die, and then reincarnate. Belief that death is merely a transition of a stage in the life cycle of the soul. Creativity and imagination to build a fictional world with its own structure and systems, except that it includes souls who have left the realm of the living. Interest in mythologies, religion, folk legends, and other forms of texts that claim that there is an afterlife that is just as challenging as life on earth. Embracing a dark concept where a grim place for lost souls exists, which is also home to some terrifying creatures and the souls continue to live on in eternal turmoil.
An individual can always play with the above symbolism and add their own complementary or contrasting elements to the tattoo to give it a special meaning. Continue to the next section to discover some great underworld tattoo designs and take notes on how you can personalize one of your own.
8 Amazing Underworld Tattoo Ideas And Meanings
Show off your fascination with the possibility of a grim, daunting, yet mysterious realm of the dead with an enchanting underworld tattoo. Check out the design ideas below for tips on detailing and customizing your tattoo design.
1. Underworld Hades Tattoo
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Hades is perhaps the most popular God of the Underworld, given his elusive and absent-minded nature that somehow makes a splash when he decides to leap out of his realm to kidnap Persephone, the Goddess of Spring. His methods are heavily debated; some Greek mythology fanatics applaud him, while others detest him for his actions, but he is a constant topic of discussion among them. The tattoo above, which shows him with elaborate ridged horns and dark, depthless eyes, captures his enigma as the Lord of the Underworld quite brilliantly. You can also opt for a full illustration, where he is dressed in a toga, with dark smoke coming from his body to paint a gruesome picture.
2. Underworld Gates of Hell Tattoo
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The idea that there is a gate to hell or the underworld makes its existence even more realistic, as there seems to be a perceived entry point to the place where all people go when they die. Take cues from the tattoo above to illustrate your gates of hell with ornate, towering, intimidating arches and pointed gates. Have some bloodcurdling souls hover around the entrance. Adding some flames framing the gate is another detail that satisfies the perception of this gate of no return.
3. Greek mythology underworld tattoo
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While Hades is one of the most popular figures when it comes to Greek mythology underworld tattoo themes, the many fearsome and mythological creatures that inhabit the underworld can also serve as impressive highlights of your tattoo. The tattoo above depicts Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the gates of the underworld. You can go for a fierce look where the dogs have intense stares and bared teeth, or you can try for a calm and neutral expression as seen in the image. After all, Cerberus is also Hades’ beloved pet, tamed by him.
4. God of the Underworld Tattoo
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In different cultures around the world, the God of the Underworld has many names and forms. You can draw inspiration from any of them for this concept, whether it is Yama in Hinduism, Osiris in Egypt, or Izanami in Japanese. By choosing a specific culture, you can add specific details to your tattoo to enhance its symbolism and aesthetics. The tattoo above shows a general idea of a God of the Underworld with horns and empty eyes, surrounded by tormented spirits. The dotwork technique gives the image an ethereal, surreal feel, fitting for this concept.
5. Aztec God of the Underworld Tattoo
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In Aztec mythology, Mictlantecuhtli is the God who rules the night, the event of death, and the dead. The stone carvings at Aztec sites show different versions of the God, sometimes depicted as a skeletal figure with snakes wrapped around his body, and other times as a revered and ornate God, worshipped to allow safe passage to the afterlife. The example above shows the God as a stone carving, wearing an ornate headdress, emphasizing his importance. The soft black and gray shading gives him an organic, time-worn look, speaking to his eternal symbolism.
6. Underworld Tattoo Sleeve
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If you have a lot to say and illustrate, opt for a tattoo sleeve for your underworld tattoo in a place that can be easily shown off in most casual social settings. The tattoo above has a Halloween undertone, with hooded creatures gathered around a hellish fire, with bats hovering above them and dancing through the smoke of the flames. The scene continues down the forearm with the graceful flow of the fire with some skulls thrown in for some eerie detailing. The dotwork shading and negative space details for the flames prove to be suitable artistic techniques.
7. Roman Underworld Tattoo
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In Roman mythology, Pluto is the God and ruler of the underworld, but with more positive meanings, such as wealth and prosperity due to the minerals buried in the ground and the soil’s nurturing ability to grow crops. The Roman underworld tattoo above shows the God in his nocturnal court, detailed with marble Roman pillars and a mosaic tiled floor, and surrounded by dead spirits seeking answers and awaiting judgment. The chalky color palette adds to the celestial and surreal feel of the tattoo, making for an impressive, attention-grabbing tattoo.
8. Underworld tattoo on back
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If your underworld tattoo is elaborate, multi-elemental, or features a highly detailed scene, your back is arguably the largest canvas you can choose to showcase your big picture. The tattoo above depicts a scene from the Greek underworld featuring Charon, the ferryman on a river (Acheron), who transports lost souls to their doom for a price. The water below and the stark, dark shadows above match the mood of the scene, adding movement and depth to the artwork and giving it a lifelike quality.
We really hope you enjoyed your walk through this mysterious, seductive and fascinating dark journey through our underworld tattoo concepts. As we have noted, the idea for these underworld tattoos can be borrowed from a number of cultures and mythologies from all over the world. These tattoos can feature daunting, formidable, yet magnificent portraits of various gods of death and the afterlife, fearsome creatures believed to walk among the dead, or special elements that play a key role in such worlds. The best way to emphasize the dark and mysterious atmosphere of these tattoos is to opt for realistic black and gray tattoos that show depth and emphasize the creepiness in the design. However, you can always give free rein to your eccentric impulses to add contrasting and colorful elements to your underworld tattoo. Now that these ideas have successfully sparked your creativity, wait no longer and start designing your tattoo right away!
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Lucas Cummins is an Ohio-based tattoo artist who has been making his mark on the tattoo industry for the past 2 years. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for vibrant expression, Lucas specializes in neo-traditional, colorful, and abstract style tattoos.
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Manjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience writing across various niches including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion for writing in school and has been honing her craft ever since.
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Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has written more than 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from University of Calcutta, West Bengal and did her post-graduation from Kalyani University, West Bengal.
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Joyce Joyson is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over a year of experience in creating short-form content for the beauty, fashion and lifestyle niches. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, Political Science and Geography from IIS University and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kristu Jayanti College.
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