Snake Tattoos & Snake Tattoo Designs

The snake is one of the most iconic images in tattooing both in modern and ancient cultures alike, and as such snake tattoos have been quite popular for many decades.

Snakes were depicted in art long before humans even had a written word, so it is no wonder that they remain such a fascinating form of art today.

The snake means different things in a variety of different cultures, some see it as being evil and others see it as a good omen.

Christianity for example has a strong negative connotation attached to the snake because it was a snake that tempted Eve to eat the forbidden apple.

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Whereas other cultures worship the image of the serpent as an image of fertility. This stems from the fact that the snake has a very phallic shape. Snakes though are also very deadly from their venom. It is from the combination of both these ideals that create what the snake is most known for, as a representation of life and death. This is the reason why snakes coiled around a staff is the symbol for the medical profession.

Surprisingly despite this, snakes have often been as a female symbol in many cultures. Snakes as a female symbol tend to represent wisdom. This is why snakes are becoming increasingly popular among women, though most see them as still a mainly tattoo design. The popularity of snake tattoos among men is due to the vicious nature, their ability to kill with one bite, and the amount of strength they possess in order to strangle their victims.

In India, the cobra is a totem for the indigenous people and it is considered to be good luck to have one nearby, despite the fact that they are among the most venomous snakes in existence. The cobra makes a very popular tattoo because of it’s easily recognizable hood. The rattlesnake is also very popular not only because it is easily recognizable by its rattle but because of the potency of its venom as well.

Whether you chose a snake tattoo as a show of masculine strength and power or of female fertility, a design can be made to suit your desires. Snake tattoos are very popular for a number of different reasons. The first is that they act as a sort of male version of a vine tattoo in that they can easily wrap around the arm or leg.

These are by far the most popular places for simple snakes because it offers a unique and sometimes scary look. For larger snakes the most popular place is the back. Back snake tattoos are typically representations of cobras or rattlesnakes. These snakes are popular because they are easily recognizable and they are among the most poisonous snakes in existence. Snakes are popularly done in black and white, but they can also be made in colors. Typically a snake has a more “tough” appearance when done in black and white.

A unique way of doing a snake tattoo that can be made either big or small is that of an Ouroboros. This is a very ancient symbol that is shown as a snake eating its tail and creating a circle. It is seen as a symbol of rebirth, as something beginning again as soon as it ends.

Since then numerous interpretations of the symbol have been created but none have been as pervasive as the original. Though alchemists used to use the symbol as well as a symbol of their opus or the triumph of their work, this usually referred to turning metal into gold or the creation of a philosopher’s stone.

Celebrity Snake Tattoos

There are a number of celebrities with tattoos; Jeff Corwin not surprisingly has a coral snake on his upper left shoulder. Actress Sheryl Lee is also reported to have a snake tattoo but it is in an undisclosed location. Alyssa Milano has an Ouroboros tattoo.

The bottom line with snake tattoos is that they can fit nearly anywhere on the body and definitely look awesome when done correctly.

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