8 Creative Serpent Tattoo Idea Designs And Meaning

Let the bold inner you free with some slithery and stunning body art!

Reviewed by Rodrigo Casco, Professional Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist Rodrigo Casco Rodrigo CascoProfessional Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist facebook_iconyoutube_iconinsta_icon
Written by Manjari Uppal, MSc Manjari Uppal MSc linkedin_icon Experience: 3 years
Edited by Anjali Sayee, BTech Anjali Sayee BTech linkedin_icon Experience: 7 years
Fact-checked by Shreya Mukherjee, MA (English) Shreya Mukherjee MA (English) Experience: 2 years
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A serpent tattoo is popular for its relation to mythology, culture, and personal expression. Whether it is coiled around your limbs or inked over the spine, it is captivating enough to turn some heads. Getting a serpent tattoo shows your daring and fearless spirit as it is a revered and feared creature across multiple cultures. These designs are a great way to commemorate personal stories of rebirth, transformation, and protection. And there are so many design options to select, from simple black-and-white renditions to colorful and vibrant tattoos. So, get ready to explore the allure and significance of this fascinating motif and keep reading.

Meaning Of Serpent Tattoos

Serpent tattoos are extremely popular these days. Serpents are a symbol of rebirth and transformation due to their ability to shed their skin. If you wish to ink a reminder of your new beginnings, this motif will surely help you.

In many cultures, serpents are also seen as embodiments of wisdom and knowledge. For instance, in Greek mythology, the serpent-entwined staff of Asclepius signifies healing and medicine. Additionally, serpents are linked to protection and guardianship, often depicted as fierce defenders in various mythologies. They can also symbolize fertility and life force, as seen in ancient civilizations like the Egyptians.

Take a look at the designs below and learn more about the symbolism attached to serpent tattoos.

8 Creative Serpent Tattoo Designs And Meanings

Explore creative serpent tattoo designs such as a coiled snake with intricate scales, a serpent intertwined with flowers, or a mythical dragon-snake hybrid. Each design tells a unique story.

1. Aztec Serpent Tattoo

Tribal-style Aztec serpent tattoo covering the shoulder and upper arm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

The Aztec serpent, known as the Quetzalcoatl, is a feathered serpent deity that symbolizes wisdom, power, and transformation. This serpent tattoo is inked in tribal style, covering the shoulder and upper arm in black ink. The shading and patterns in this tattoo stand to represent the strength and mystique held by this revered deity.

2. Feathered Serpent Tattoo

A feathered serpent tattoo with patterns covering the arm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

This is another feathered serpent tattoo worth your time! Though inked in plain black, the design captures the eye due to the leafy patterns that accompany the serpent. The most unique thing about this tattoo is that the serpent’s head also resembles that of a bird, symbolizing a fusion of earth and sky, wisdom, and strength.

3. Sea Serpent Tattoo

A beautiful geometric sea serpent tattoo in shades of blue
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

A mesmerizing design that captures the mysterious hues of the seas! This geometric sea serpent tattoo champions the color blue to add to its allure. The serpent is intricately composed of triangle and diamond shapes, each colored in varying shades of blue. The geometric elements create a modern and abstract image that beautifully complements the fluidity of the serpent’s form.

4. Sage And Serpent Tattoo

A tattoo of a serpent coiled around a stem of sage on the back
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

A striking image of a serpent coiled around a leafy stem of sage certainly catches the eyes! The tattoo looks realistic and incredible, inked elaborately on the back in black ink. These two powerful elements symbolize healing, wisdom, and protection. The serpent is your protector while the sage is the source of purification and warding off bad juju.

5. Bronze Serpent Tattoo

A reddish-bronze serpent tattoo covering your arm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Now this serpent tattoo is the one for you if you are not shy of being in the spotlight. The reddish-bronze hue of the snake stands out against the skin, while the subtle floral accents on the side adds to its appeal. The design provides a balanced representation of beauty, strength, and growth.

6. Mayan Serpent Tattoo

An intricate Mayan serpent tattoo on the forearm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Carvings at Mayan temples are simply mesmerizing. Taking inspiration from the same, this tattoo features a colorful serpent inked intricately on the forearm. Just like the Aztecs, the Mayans worshiped the plumed serpent Kukulcan who represents renewal. This tattoo may represent one’s desire to begin afresh or set out on another adventure to tackle.

7. Japanese Serpent Tattoo

A green Japanese serpent tattoo on the upper back
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Japanese serpent tattoos commonly feature dragons as they are popular in the culture. A green dragon serpent in Japanese is known as ‘Ryu’ and symbolizes wisdom, strength, and protection. They are known for manipulating the natural elements and representing imperial power and authority. So this serpent tattoo may help you feel protected and powerful.

8. Serpent Forbidden Fruit Tattoo

A black ink serpent and apple tattoo on the upper arm
Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Now this tattoo is a perfect symbol that points to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Inked on your upper arm in black ink, it is a powerful reminder of the complex human nature and morals that rules us. The snake represents the devil, tempting Eve to take a bite from the forbidden fruit, the apple that led to the fall of humanity.

Serpent tattoos can fill a whole book with the amount of symbolism and meanings attached to them, from cultures all over the world. Serpents have intrigued and inspired for centuries, from the ancient myths of Quetzalcoatl to the biblical narratives of temptation. They not only invoke reverence, but also fear for serpents are not known to be forgiving and kind. Whether adorned with intricate Aztec patterns, geometric sea serpent motifs, or poignant biblical imagery, each tattoo holds a different meaning across cultures and for the wearer. So, if you wish to ink yourself with a motif that captures the complexities of life and human nature, serpent tattoos are the way to go.

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Rodrigo Casco
Rodrigo CascoProfessional Tattoo and Body Piercing Artist
Rodrigo Casco is an Argentine tattoo artist. He has 21 years of experience designing tattoos. He has done tattooing by hand as well as created his own tattoo machines. He has won multiple awards and stood first in national and international tattoo conventions, is a judge at events, and also gives many seminars.

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Manjari Uppal
Manjari Uppal Beauty & Lifestyle Writer
Manjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience in writing across different niches, including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion for writing in school and has since honed her craft to perfection.

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Anjali Sayee
Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor
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 Mukherjee
Shreya MukherjeeBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
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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