A Hermes tattoo represents one of the most fun and interesting gods in Greek mythology. This god is known for his cheerful, mischievous nature. In modern parlance, he would be called the god of gossip who is never without tea because he is always in the right place at the right time. Interestingly enough, however, he is also a god whose greatest weapon is his knowledge and who is prone to being dishonest, meaning that not everyone is privy to every little secret. Didn’t we mention he was interesting and relatable? If you’re looking for a quirky and charming tattoo of this friendly neighborhood god, we have a compilation of ideas for you to explore later in the article. Take a look, because we’re sure you’ll find more than a few that suit your taste.
What does a Hermes tattoo symbolize?
In Greek mythology, Hermes is one of the twelve Olympian gods. He is known as the messenger or herald of and among the Olympians. He is most often depicted as a young, mischievous god who has a knack for great timing when it comes to gathering all kinds of information. He is often depicted wearing a pair of sandals, a helmet, or a staff with wings that give him speed in delivering his news. The ancient Greeks revered Hermes as the god of travel, guidance, and communication. According to legends, Hermes was also a trickster and stole whenever he found something useful. Therefore, interestingly enough, he is also known as the god of quick wit, resourcefulness, and adaptability, and the protector of skilled orators, thieves, merchants, and other heralds.
Thus, a Hermes tattoo can symbolize all of the above and more if the wearer chooses to depict the God in a particular artistic way, combined with other meaningful symbols. To learn some creative ways to ensure that your Hermes tattoo conveys a personal meaning, continue on to the next section.
8 Awesome Hermes Tattoo Ideas for the Wanderer
There are more than a few ways that a few striking features from the various historical portraits of Hermes, or a combination of them, can brilliantly represent God and express your shared ideologies. Discover how in the examples below.
1. Hermes Wings Tattoo
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Hermes’ wings are his most prominent feature, as they symbolize his speed, allowing him to act as a swift messenger. Due to his easy access to flight, he was also seen as a traveler or wanderer. Various versions of Hermes throughout the years show him with wings on his back, on a helmet, on his staff, or on the back of his sandals. Take inspiration from such versions for your Hermes tattoo. The image above shows a pair of magical wings sprouting from the spine and spreading across the wide canvas of a back, expressing wanderlust or a desire for freedom.
2. Hermes Greek God Tattoo
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Embrace the mischief, humor, and wisdom of Hermes by showcasing the god through a portrait tattoo. This tattoo shows him from a titled profile with his wings spread wide. The interesting thing about getting a Hermes portrait tattoo is how you can customize these portraits with the face of someone you know has similar qualities to the god. You can also show him in an animated illustration with a winged helmet, staff, and shoes, with an all-knowing grin on his face.
3. Hermes Trismegistus Tattoo
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Hermes Trismegistus is a mythological figure who is a combination of Hermes and the Egyptian god of writing and learning, Thoth. The caduceus, a staff with two serpents spiraling upward and a pair of wings on its head, is the symbol associated with this figure. This symbol is also sometimes used to represent modern medicine or the community of modern physicians, which is symbolized by the staff of Asclepius, the god of healing. Despite the ambiguity in this regard, a caduceus tattoo can contain personal symbolism for someone in the medical fraternity, as well as convey an interest in the ancient practice of alchemy.
4. Hermes ankle tattoo
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Hermes is often depicted wearing shoes with wings in the common heel or ankle. A clever way to show this through tattoos is to choose an ankle placement where a stylized wing can be etched in the wearer’s favorite artistic style for an iconic reference. This placement, combined with the wing tattoo, can speak to the wearer’s admiration for speed or swiftness. It can be a suitable tattoo for both travelers and athletes.
5. Bird of Hermes tattoo
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Hermes is often associated with birds, not surprisingly, thanks to how often he is depicted with multiple wings. While Hermes is not associated with a specific type of bird, many people associate him with birds that have charismatic qualities. Such as a dove that always brings news of peace or a hummingbird because of the rapid flapping of its wings. The tattoo above shows a hawk perched on the wings of a caduceus. This bird is associated with speed, laser eyes, and exceptional hunting skills, which opens up a range of symbolism for the wearer.
6. Minimalist Hermes Tattoo
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If simplicity and minimalism are your aesthetic style, you can always illustrate the essence of Hermes with clean lines and minimal details. The tattoo above shows a medium-sized caduceus in a fine outline on the inside of the wrist. Likewise, this idea can also be appropriately represented by a small icon of a single wing or the outline of a helmet with wings on both sides. The helmet can also be customized to the wearer’s taste.
7. Geometric Hermes Tattoo
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A geometric design combined with an ancient mythological God is the perfect combination of the past and the present. There are a few fun ways to approach this concept. You can always go for a simple design with a geometric frame in which you detail a portrait of Hermes or a realistically detailed illustration of the caduceus, etc. Or you can go for something complex like the example above with a wing growing from geometric structures of the forearm, moving upwards and creating the illusion of a wing sprouting from someone’s arm.
8. Hermes winged shoes tattoo
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This tattoo is inspired by Hermes’ iconic footwear, the talaria, a simple flat sandal with straps and wings coming out of the back or sides. The cool thing about this tattoo though is that it can represent anything from Hermes, even if the footwear isn’t the traditional Greek sandal. A fun idea would be to use footwear specific to a profession or hobby to personalize it. It could be a stiletto, hiking boots, sneakers, ballet flats, etc.
And that’s the fun list of ideas we promised. Did you notice that while the God has a lot going for him, everything from a small feathered wing to a super realistic portrait and everything in between can express a connection to his character? A simple tattoo that shows him in his winged glory can express your admiration or attachment to the God. On the other hand, a clever tattoo of a pair of symmetrical wings on each foot near the ankles can show your humor and indirectly convey how charming you find this particular God. Adding to these elements is the caduceus, the iconic winged staff of Hermes with entwined snakes, which is often seen in tattoos for its elegant appearance. Mix and match these symbols or add others that have a personal meaning to you for a custom tattoo that you won’t be able to stop talking about.
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Eve Phillips is an experienced artist in a variety of tattoo styles, although she specializes in fine detail and floral tattoos. She has owned studios in both Australia and the UK for 20 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of tattoo art, health, licensing, trends, current issues and history.
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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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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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Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Previously, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 top-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.
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