Are you slithering over the internet on your hunt for the perfect Tattoo Design? Well, look no further.
Don’t feel constricted to the same old designs as you bring you a fresh look at some of the most beautiful and transformative Snake Tattoos the internet has to offer.
What Does A Snake Tattoo Mean
Snake Tattoos have various meanings due to snakes’ long history of being feared and worshipped worldwide.
This symbolism includes:
Rebirth and Transformation, as many cultures represent the shedding of a snake’s skin as starting over anew and symbolizes the idea of transformation and change in one’s life.
Lifecycles, as many cultures use snakes or dragons in the ouroboros, a symbol of a snake or dragon eating its own tail, to symbolize the cyclical nature of life and the passage of time.
Healing and Medicine as cultures such as the ancient Greeks believed snakes to have healing properties, making snakes a symbol of medicine.
Lastly, Deception and Deceit, as thanks to tales such as the Garden of Eden, snakes are viewed as deceptive beings and icons of sin who trick mankind into committing dark deeds or lustful and sinful acts.
Snake Tattoo Designs
Now that we know a little about the meaning of snake tattoos, let’s take a look at some of the best snake tattoo designs we can find.
Traditional Snake Tattoo
Traditional Tattoos or Old School Tattoos were a style popularized by American Tattooing icon Sailor Jerry Collins. These Tattoos focus on their bold black outlines, limited color palette, and simplistic designs without high detailing.
Cobra Tattoo
Cobras are snakes known for flaring their neck ribs to form a distinctive hood when threatened. This hood is used as a defensive mechanism, making it appear larger and more intimidating to predators or threats.
Cobras have been worshipped and feared by many cultures throughout the world, linked to deities such as Shiva, who wears a cobra around his neck, or with Egyptian goddess Wadjet, who was considered a protector of the Pharaohs.
Anaconda Tattoo
Anacondas are one of the largest and heaviest snake species in the world.
These massive creatures live in the tropical rainforests, swamps, marshes, and slow-moving rivers of South America, where they hunt and kill their prey by wrapping around it and squeezing until the animal suffocates.
Viper Tattoo
Most vipers are ambush predators that rely on camouflage to wait for their prey to get close enough to strike.
Vipers have hemotoxic venom, a potent venom that primarily affects the blood and tissues, causing pain, swelling, and tissue destruction at the bite site.
If not treated, this can lead to internal bleeding, clotting issues, and, in severe cases, organ damage or death.
Nagini Snake Tattoo
Originally a female human Maldictus who could transform into a snake, Nagini was Aurelius Dumbledore’s lover before eventually becoming Lord Voldemort’s servant.
After he had killed Bertha Jorkins, Nagini was made into one of Voldemort’s Horcrux.
Nagini was ultimately killed by Neville Longbottom, with Godric Gryffindor’s Sword being the last of Voldemort’s Horcrux to be destroyed.
Colorful Snake Tattoo
If you want to add a bit more than a dash of color to your Snake Tattoo, why not try something like this Colorful Snake Tattoo idea?
This gorgeous design features a ton of color, which all seedless blend together to make a design that’s extremely colorful without looking gaudy.
Skeletal Snake Tattoo
Snake Tattoos are cool in their own right, but do you know what’s even cooler than a Snake Tattoo?
A Skeletal Snake Tattoo of course! This terrific design features a snake’s skeleton coiling around the wearer’s arm with its mouth open, showing off its fearsome teeth.
Realistic Snake Tattoo
Realism Tattoos replicate real-life images in extreme detail, mimicking the appearance of photographs or three-dimensional objects on the skin.
These tattoos aim to reproduce the image as accurately as possible, giving a lifelike quality printed on the skin.
Fierce Snake Tattoo
If you want to give your Snake Tattoo a meaner look to it, then try out this Fierce Snake Tattoo.
This nice little design has a snake running down the wearer’s chest from the neck with its mouth open either to scare off a threat or being ready to strike.
Jafar Snake Tattoo
This Disney Tattoo is of Jafar, the main antagonist of the 1992 Disney Animated film Aladdin.
Before the conclusion of the film, having been insulted by Aladdin by being called a snake, Jafar transforms into a massive cobra to crush Aladdin to death.
Luckily, Aladdin escapes by tricking Jafar into wishing himself into a Genie form, trapping him inside a lamp.
Floral Snake Tattoo
Flowers come with a wide range of meanings, depending on which flower you choose to adorn yourself with.
This Snake Tattoo comes with the lavender flower, a flower associated with calmness, purity, and serenity.
Love Heart Snake Tattoo
If you love snakes and really want to show off your love for these legless serpents, then try out this gorgeous Love Heart Snake Tattoo Design.
This beautiful piece has a cobra with a number of love hearts across its body and some under its hood.
Skull Snake Tattoo
Skull tattoos can have a wide range of meanings depending on the design and the cultural context.
While skulls often represent death and decay, they can also symbolize more positive themes, including celebrating life, rebirth, and personal strength.
Medusa Tattoo
There is probably no more famous mythical creature associated with snakes than Medusa.
Medusa is one of the three Gorgon sisters, consisting of herself, Stheno, and Euryale.
In some versions of the tale, Medusa is born in her Gorgon form; however, in others, she is born as a beautiful maiden cursed to become a monster due to the goddess Athena’s jealousy.
Beetlejuice Sandworm Tattoo
Yes, technically, it is called a worm, but because it has a snake-like tongue, I’m going to include it on this list.
The sandworm is a large, serpentine creature with one mouth located inside the other.
These creatures live in an alternate dimension known as Titan/Saturn, which characters enter if they step outside the boundaries of the afterlife’s waiting room, where they wait after death.
Sword Snake Tattoo
Sword Tattoos are rich in symbolism related to strength, duty, and protection.
Throughout history, swords have been associated as symbols of power, honor, and defense.
When joined with a snake, they can symbolize danger, wisdom, or the balance between life and death.
Forbidden Fruit Snake Tattoo
This Snake Tattoo references the snake from the Garden of Eden.
The Garden of Eden was a paradise where the first two humans, Adam and Eve, lived.
After God forbade the pair from eating from an apple tree at the garden’s center, a snake, sometimes believed to be the devil, convinced Eve to eat from it.
Angered, God expelled Adam and Eve, who, after eating the apple, became aware of good and evil and cursed the snake to crawl on its belly and be at enmity with humanity.
Ouroboros Snake Tattoo
The Ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a snake or dragon eating its own tail, forming a circle.
The symbol associates the cycle of life and eternity. The snake or dragon eating its own tail represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, while the circle shape symbolizes the never-ending process of the universe.
Irezumi Snake Tattoo
Irezumi Tattoos are a traditional Japanese tattooing style dating back to the Edo period.
In this period, tattoos were used to mark criminals as symbols of their crimes.
This led to a stigma towards tattoos in Japanese culture and prevented the art from becoming synonymous with the Japanese Yakuza.
Over time, the tattoo scene evolved, with Irezumi being seen as an essential component of the tattooing art form, as an artistic expression rather than a signifier of criminality.
Eagle And Snake Tattoo
A common image you may have seen is an Eagle battling against a snake.
This design is a classic depiction of good vs. evil, not just of what happens in nature.
The eagle is often associated with divine or noble qualities, while the snake is frequently linked with deception, temptation, or danger.
Band Snake Tattoo
For something a little more unique that takes full advantage of the snake’s anatomy, check out this super cool armband ouroboros snake tattoo.
This lovely tattoo design has the snake wrapping around the arm and eating its own tail in the ouroboros style.
Demon Snake Tattoo
Another unique design, if you really want to emphasize the evil aspects of your snake, then try out something like this demon snake tattoo.
This fantastic design has a fearsome-looking snake with huge, sharp, and jagged teeth and some of its scales protruding like horns all over its body.
Sir Hiss Snake Tattoo
Sir Hiss is a character from the 1973 Disney film Robin Hood.
Sir Hiss is the sly, bumbling, sycophantic, and comedic sidekick to Prince John, the film’s main antagonist.
Sir Hiss assists Prince John in his schemes to maintain control over Nottingham by using abilities such as hypnosis, which he uses to try to manipulate others.
Rose Snake Tattoo
Rose Tattoos, are universally recognized as symbols of love and romantic passion.
Your Rose Tattoo can represent deep feelings of affection, desire, and emotional connection, be dedicated to a loved one, or symbolize the wearer’s romantic or passionate nature.
Neo-Traditional Snake Tattoo
Neo-Traditional Tattoos are a modern take on the American traditional style that blends some of its classic elements with more contemporary techniques and influences.
Like their traditional counterparts, Neo-Traditional Tattoos use bold, thick outlines that give the design clarity and longevity but use a broader color palette with more detail and shading.
Dragon And Snake Tattoo
Japanese Mask Snake Tattoo
Japanese Mask Tattoos have a wide variety of meanings depending on which mask you choose to adorn yourself with. This can range from strength and power with the Oni Mask, the complexity of human emotions with the Hanna Mask, or prosperity, success, and good fortune with the Kitsune Mask.
Porcelain Snake Tattoo
While I’m not 100% certain this design mimics porcelain, we will just pretend that it does. So, to add some style to your Snake Tattoo Design, try out this Porcelain Snake Tattoo. This fabulous design has gorgeous blue clouds and waves on the pattern of its skin, contrasted nicely by the snake’s white color.
Oriental Frame Snake Tattoo
If you want to add an Asian twist to your Snake Tattoo, check out this super nice Oriental Frame Snake Tattoo. These frames often feature elements of nature and mythology, symbolizing the importance of balance, harmony, and connection to the natural world.
Cherry Blossom Snake Tattoo
Cherry Blossoms or Sakura are often associated with the profound meaning of the impermanence of life. Having a very short lifespan, lasting only a few days before falling to the ground. The fleeting beauty of the cherry blossom symbolizes how life is both beautiful and short-lived, reminding people to cherish the present moment.
Crescent Moon Snake Tattoo
The Crescent Moon is a symbol often associated with growth, change, and feminine energy. Due to it being a transitional phase in the lunar cycle, the moon symbolizes change and transformation.
The moon has also long been a symbol of mystery, and the unconscious mind, as a crescent moon, particularly in its darker phases, can represent life’s hidden or mysterious aspects.
Coiling Snake Tattoo
One of the most unique designs that takes advantage of the snake’s anatomy is this coiling effect on the collarbone. This stunning effect makes it appear like the snake coils around the bone, seamlessly disappearing into the skin before popping back out the other side, giving it a realistic three-dimensional effect.
Arbok Snake Tattoo
This Pokemon Tattoo is of Arbok, the 24th Pokemon in the Pokedex. Evolving from Ekans, Arbok is a cobra whose hood has over 20 variations.
Unlike true cobras, which use venom to kill their prey, Arbok is capable of crushing opponents by coiling its body around them and squeezing them tightly like a python. Most Pokemon fans will already know this, but Arbok and Ekans are just reversed names from what they are based on Ekans being snake and Arbok for Cobra but with a K.
Fuu Dog Snake Tattoo
Fuu Dogs, also known as Foo Doogs, Guardian Lions, or Shishi, are traditional Chinese and Japanese mythical creatures that symbolize protection, power, and strength.
Despite being called “dogs,” Fu Dogs are actually stylized lions who are believed to have the power to protect homes, temples, and important places from negative energies, evil spirits, and bad fortune.
Statue Snake Tattoo
Another excellent design for your Snake Tattoo is to have it wrapped around a statue such as this one. While I’m not sure of the meaning of this design, in Greek times, statues used snakes as a symbol of medicine and healing.
The most well-known statue of a snake wrapped around a figure or staff comes from Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. This imagery is also linked to the Rod of Asclepius, which features a serpent entwined around a staff and is still used today as a symbol of medicine and healthcare.
Kaa Tattoo
Kaa is one of the antagonists of the Disney Jungle Book film. While his book counterpart was depicted as a wise and experienced creature knowledgeable about the jungle and its secrets, in the Disney variation, he is a sly, manipulative snake who tries to hypnotize Mowgli and eat him on multiple occasions.
Kaa is most famous for his song ‘Trust in Me,’ which he sings while attempting to hypnotize Mowgli. Sterling Holloway voices Kaa, whose soft, soothing voice contrasts with Kaa’s sinister intentions, adding to the character’s creepy charm and comedic nature.
Where To Get Your Snake Tattoo
Design is one thing, but you also need to think about where to get your new Snake Ink. So, let’s take a look at some of the best places to get your potential new tattoo.
Back Snake Tattoo
The back is the best place to get your Snake Tattoo if you want to go all out with its design. With so much space on a flat plane, your artist should have no problem creating a huge, eye-popping design that is sure to impress.
Snake Tattoo On The Foot
The foot is one of the least comfortable places to get a Tattoo. This location has thin skin and is incredibly close to the bone, veins, and tendons, so it isn’t for the faint of heart. However, when all is said and done, you will get a fantastic design such as the one shown.
Hand Snake Tattoo
The hand is similar to the foot in that it is uncomfortable to get inked. Like the foot, the hand has thick skin with many veins and tendons. However, unlike the foot, which may be challenging to show off often, the hand allows you to show off your design whenever you like.
Arm Snake Tattoo
The arm is the perfect spot for first-time tattooers. Due to its large amount of fat and muscle, it is one of the least painful places to get tattooed. However, depending on what you’re wearing or the size of your ink, the arm can be both easy and difficult to show off, so you need to think carefully about where on the arm you want to place your ink.
Snake Tattoo On The Leg
The Leg is similar to the arm, but it may be a bit more challenging to show off if you don’t live in a warmer climate. Positions like the thigh and calf are pretty comfortable getting inked, but places such as the knee will be somewhat uncomfortable.
Conclusion
So we slither to the end of the enigmatic Snake Tattoo. Now that you’ve shed the skin of old designs, we hope you are impresssssed by what we’ve had on offer. But, hey, if Snake Tattoos still don’t hypnotize you, trust in me and don’t hiss-itate to check out these Magnificent Medusa Tattoos, these fiery Phoenix Tattoos, or these spooky Spider Tattoo designs.
