All Worlds Blog: Aztec Tattoos

Aztec Tattoos

For those who are proud of their Mayan ancestry or simply want to sport some striking and symbolism rich body art then Aztec Tattoos may be just what your looking for. And if you do there are several different designs which are emblematic of the Aztec tattoo style. The first one is the feathered serpent god known as Quetzalcoatl, revered by the Aztec and Mayan alike. The Feathered Serpent deity was important in art and religion in most of Meso-America for close to 2,000 years, from the Pre-Classic era until the Spanish conquest. The dagger is also a symbol that had significant meaning to the Aztecs. It was the instrument that cut the hearts out of their sacrificial subject and as such, was considered a holy symbol. Another popular Aztec tattoo is the sun god motif as shown in the picture. And this was a very important symbol to the Aztec and Mayan people around six hundred years ago. It’s also a design that is very rich in symbolism. The sun tattoo might very well symbolize a belief in the afterlife, which may explain why this celestial character was often depicted in a serious mood, though modern interpretations may show him with a smile on his face.

Now this tattoo brings out the mystery of the Aztecs. Very deep and mysterious with the dark and the light trying to blend together. There could be some very religious feelings put into aztec tattoos, but this one especially with the specific way the light is on top of the dark. I feel the Aztecs were a glorious race of Indians and they began their story telling thousands of years ago by tattooing the skin of their peoples and the walls of their ruins. Today is no different, you will see many people from Mexico with aztec tattoos. It is about keeping their heritage and beliefs alive using art the way their ancestors did. I like this tattoo quite a bit, but I would rather see the tattoo go further down the arm to almost if not past the elbow.

The one thing you don’t notice on a lot of aztec tattoos is if the tattoo goes all the way around the arm utilizing underneath the arm also. If the tattoo doesn’t go all the way around then when you raise your arm the tattoo always seems incomplete. Might want to think about that when you are planning on having any aztec tattoos used on your body.