8 Inspiring Memento Mori Tattoo Designs Honoring Mortality

If you are intrigued by the fleeting nature of life, you need to consider getting a memento mori tattoo. These tattoos usually feature an hourglass, a skull, withering flowers, and other elements that remind us that death is inevitably coming for us. While some get these tattoos as a way to remind themselves of death, others get it as an homage to honor and remember a deceased loved one. Discover the 8 best memento mori tattoos, inked in different styles, with their meaning right here. Scroll down to learn more!

Meaning Of A Memento Mori Tattoo

Memento mori tattoos are much like macabre tattoos. They generally symbolize the perishability of life. However, it doesn’t mean that these tattoos are meant to be morbid. Some use these tattoos as a reminder to hold dear to everything that is important to them. These tattoos have many meanings.

• Historically, Memento Mori tattoos were used to encourage reflection on life’s impermanence and to inspire virtuous living. They symbolize the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. The word comes from Latin and means “Remember that you will die.” They guide people to appreciate the present and live with purpose.
• These tattoos often hold spiritual, philosophical, or existential meanings, acting as personal totems. They encourage wearers to confront mortality with humility, gratitude, and awareness. Over time, Memento Mori has evolved from a somber reminder to a celebration of life’s preciousness.
• These tattoos serve as a constant reminder to cherish each moment and prioritize what truly matters. They encourage reflection on one’s mortality and remind about the fragile nature of life.
• The most commonly used elements include the skull, often accompanied by bones. Other elements include coffins, wilting flowers, hourglasses that altogether show the impermanence of life.
• These tattoos are often flaunted by those entranced by specific art genres, like vanitas, where death is the main subject. The Danse Macabre and ‘death personified with a scythe as the Grim Reaper’ symbols are few examples .
• In addition, they can also hold a personal story of the wearer. They can be used as a tribute to a deceased loved one. Some also take this tattoo to mean that since death is inevitable, it should not be feared but rather laughed at, allowing people to openly take risks without worrying about consequences.

These unique tattoos can be inked very creatively in various designs and patterns. Check out the section below to know more.

Top 8 Memento Mori Tattoo Ideas

Memento mori tattoos are a unique and slightly dark choice of body art. These tattoos can be etched creatively in various designs and on different body placements, as seen below!

1. Minimalist Memento Mori Tattoo

This tattoo features a simple memento mori design involving a stick body figure with a skull head. If you are looking for a minimalistic design with striking appeal, then this tattoo is for you. It symbolizes mortality, reminding one to live authentically and spontaneously. The placement on the wrist offers maximum visibility to the tattoo.

2. Memento Mori Hourglass Tattoo

This tattoo features a skull inside an hourglass with the sand on the other side, indicating that life is almost at its end. The design symbolizes the passage of time, reminding one about mortality. While the black outline and coloring draws the eye, the clever use of negative space to show skull and sand elevates the design.

3. Old School Memento Mori Tattoo

This memento mori tattoo features a skull surrounded by flowers. This timeless design serves as a reflection of mortality and encourages the appreciation of the present moment. The flowers and leaves symbolize that all life, no matter how beautiful or useful, withers away into nothingness. The placement on the forearm offers an option to the wearer to conceal or showcase the tattoo.

4. Forearm Memento Mori Tattoo

If you are looking for a minimalistic design, then this tattoo is for you. This memento mori tattoo features a skull on the forearm inked with a simple black outline and light shading. The tattoo reminds the wearer to take risks and live life to the fullest without worrying about the future since death is inevitable. The placement on the forearm offers maximum visibility and gives a trendy look.

5. Memento Mori Skull Tattoo

This tattoo features a decorative skull on the finger. Despite its small size, this tattoo has an aesthetically pleasing appeal. The tattoo symbolizes the significance of life’s fleeting moments and the importance of seizing the day. The simple black color leaves a striking effect and makes the decorative touches on the skull shine through beautifully.

6. Memento Mori Chest Tattoo

This memento mori tattoo features a skull with wings. The intricate detailing, heavy shadework, and negative space highlights adds sophistication to the overall design. The skull acts as a reminder that death is eventual, while the wings may symbolize freedom or rebirth. This tattoo may symbolize the wearer’s belief in the afterlife, suggesting that true freedom can only be found once death has been conquered. The placement offers an option to the wearer to showcase or conceal the tattoo as required.

7. Memento Mori Font Tattoo

This tattoo features Memento mori written in an attractive font. The letters serve as a reminder of mortality. The skull symbolizes the inevitability of death, while the palm leaves represent renewal, life, and nature. The placement below the neck offers an option to the wearer whether to showcase or hide the tattoo as desired and the black ink creates a striking and visually appealing effect against the fair skin.

8. Memento Mori Hand Tattoo

This memento mori tattoo features an incomplete skull inked between lines. The incomplete skull serves as a potent reminder of mortality, serving as a constant reminder to cherish every moment of life. The crisp black outline and simple shadework gives the tattoo a sophisticated appearance, while the placement on the hand offers maximum visibility.

Memento mori tattoos often carry a personal meaning to the wearer. These tattoos usually symbolize the ever fleeting nature of life and the never-changing outcome of death, serving as a constant reminder to cherish every moment and live life to the fullest with no regrets. The designs can range from simple memento mori tattoos to intricate designs with hourglasses. Keep this list of top memento mori tattoos as a reference for your next inking session so you can show your artist your inspiration!

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Ashutosh BairagiProfessional Tattoo Artist

     

Ashutosh Bairagi graduated from RGPV, Bhopal in May 2019, where he completed his undergraduate program in Electrical Engineering. This was where he developed his interest in designing and learnt about the different types of art forms and digital tools used in the art industry.

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Joyce JoysonBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Joyce Joyson is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over a year of experience crafting short-form content for the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle niches. She has a triple majors 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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Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

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Shreya is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. After graduating from Christ University, Bengaluru, she started as a writer for a non-profit organization, Bhumi, as an intern. She then wrote for a progressive content website.

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