Tattoos have always been an important part of human social practices. Their styles, symbolism, and meanings can vary from one culture to another, but they universally represent the same thing: the desire to enhance our spirit by decorating our bodies with things dear to us. Despite many shifts in various social climates, tattoos have managed to swim through the ocean of contemporary trends.
According to some historical sources, tattooing was also an important element of Viking culture; according to others, there is no real evidence to support this belief. To be honest, unless we find a well-preserved frozen Viking in the mountains of Scandinavia, we will never be able to say which side of the historians we should take.
In this article, we will try to shed light on this under-discussed topic by presenting both sides of the argument equally. We will talk about the customs, beliefs, and preferences of the Vikings that may have introduced them to the world of tattooing. So, if you want to learn more about the origin of tattoos, their purpose, and their impact on Viking society, there is no better place to go.
THE ORIGINS OF TATTOOS
It is not really known when humans first started tattooing themselves, but it can be said with absolute certainty that tattoos are almost as old as humanity itself. The oldest example of a tattoo found was on a body extracted from a glacier in the Alps. It was almost covered in tattoos (it had 61). It was concluded that the body died around 3250 BC, making it about 5000 years old. Around the same time, tattooing became a strong cultural tradition among Austronesian peoples, where it remains a popular artistic style even today. In Europe, the strongest tattoo culture was observed among the Welsh and the Picts during the Iron Age in Great Britain. In ancient China, tattoos were considered barbaric, so they used tattoos as a method of humiliation (marking prisoners and slaves with tattoos on the forehead as a symbol of captivity or as a sign of ownership).
On the other hand, unlike China, Japan had a very strong tattoo culture. There, it often symbolized a person's social status. This practice ended at some point, and from the early 17th century until the mid-19th century, tattoos in Japan were mainly worn by firefighters, prostitutes, and manual laborers as a means of mutual identification. They also began to use it similarly to the Chinese, marking prisoners by tattooing a dog symbol on their foreheads. In 1868, tattooing was banned in Japan, which gave rise to a large subculture of tattooed people stigmatized by the rest of society. This often led them into criminal life and created fertile ground for the creation of the Yakuza, a gang that is still active today and has a huge tattoo culture as well as its own tattoo artists.
Regarding Europe, it is important to say that the Picts and the Welsh were not the only ones who loved tattoos. The Greeks and Romans initially used them in a similar way to the Chinese, as a method of humiliation. Later, tattooing soldiers even became a regular practice, a practice that continues today. Of course, tattooing was also very widespread among the Vikings, but we will return to that a little later.
The popularity tattoos enjoy in modern Western culture began after James Cook’s voyage to the South Pacific. However, it would be wrong to think that this voyage was the only reason for the increase in tattoo popularity. Rather, Cook’s voyage is certainly responsible for introducing the word "tattoo" to Europe. The word "tattoo" comes from the Tahitian word "tatau". But aside from that, there are many sources that undoubtedly confirm that tattoos were very common throughout history among early Europeans. They were also widespread among American pilgrims, who had many contacts with tattoos through the Native American community.
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DID THE VIKINGS HAVE TATTOOS?
Without a man named Ahmad ibn Fadlan, a famous 10th-century Arab traveler, we probably would have no reasonable doubt about whether Vikings had tattoos or not. He wrote about many peoples he came into contact with, but in one of his travel journals, Ibn Fadlan describes the Rus, who are commonly called Vikings. If this famous Islamic scribe had little to say about the good body odor and hygiene of the Vikings, he had only words of admiration for the rest of the Viking lifestyle.
It should not be forgotten that, regardless of their training, medieval scribes wrote in a poetic rather than informative manner. So, for example, instead of stating that the Nordic men were probably the tallest humans he had met in his life, Ibn Fadlan expresses his admiration lyrically and says that the Vikings are as tall as palm trees, fair and red-haired. As you have probably guessed, the other part of this verse refers to their fair complexion and rosy cheeks due to the harsh Scandinavian climate. Ibn Fadlan continues his praise by saying: "Blond and red-haired, they wear neither tunics nor kaftans. Each man wears a coat that covers half of his body so that one arm is uncovered. They carry axes, swords, daggers and always have them at hand. They use Frankish swords with broad, grooved blades."
Some of you may wonder why the impressions of one man about the Vikings are so important to answer the question: Did Viking tattoos really exist? Is a Viking tattoo simply part of Norse mythology? Well, Fadlan continued his observation of the Vikings with a phrase that will spark discussions among historians for many centuries. Indeed, during one of his visits to the Vikings’ homeland (Scandinavia), Fadlan claimed that their bodies were entirely tattooed from fingertips to neck and that Viking tattoos were in dark green and dark blue tones, indicating that the tattoo ink was probably made from wood ash.
Although Fadlan was a leading medieval figure and his words held great value for his contemporaries and historians of the time, one might wonder: How is it that no one else wrote about this notable fact regarding the ink used for Viking tattoos? How is it that Viking literature covered all aspects of their daily life (including hairstyles, fashion, and jewelry) but never mentioned that the most cherished Norse symbols, designs, and gods were not only carved on stones and weapons but were tattooed on their own skin?
THE MOST COMMON VIKING TATTOOS
According to modern historians who drew inspiration from Fadlan’s claims and their own understanding of Viking mentality, ancient Nordic tattoos were very likely not different from the Viking symbols they carved on objects. In this part of the article, we will therefore talk about the symbols most often used for tattoos in the Viking era.
Knowing that Norse mythology played such an important role in the Vikings’ daily life, it is hard not to think that its stories were among the most popular tattoo motifs in the Viking age. Most likely, the Norse gods, especially Odin, were often the main subject of Viking tattoos depicted on the Vikings’ skin. Various symbols from Norse mythology, such as Valknut and Sleipnir, still manage to remain relevant in the tattoo world. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Viking tattoos today.
I’ll let you pause your reading to watch this video from thINK tattoo.
YGGDRASIL TATTOO - THE TREE OF LIFE
The symbol of the sacred Norse tree of life, Yggdrasil, was probably one of the most popular tattoos in the Viking era. Most of us know that, among the many Viking symbols, Yggdrasil is first mentioned in Snorri Sturluson’s Poetic Edda from the 13th century. Sturluson describes Yggdrasil as a giant ash tree, placed in the middle of the cosmos, whose branches could touch the sky, and whose roots were deeply anchored in the Earth. The symbol of Yggdrasil represented the cycle of life, as its nine roots represented the nine realms of existence. So, if you are out of tattoo ideas and want to pay tribute to your Viking ancestors with something having a deeper meaning, Yggdrasil would probably be the right choice.
VALKNUT TATTOO - THE TRIPLE KNOT OF THE SLAIN WARRIORS
Another popular Viking symbol you might want to consider for choosing the right image for your new tattoo would undoubtedly be the Valknut symbol, the triple knot of slain warriors who are ready to be welcomed by Odin. Due to its simplistic design, Valknut would be the right choice for anyone who wants to keep their tattoos subtle but meaningful. The Valknut symbol consists of three interlocked triangles that probably also represent the heart of Hrungnir, a brave stone giant. We can therefore say that the meaning of Valknut is related to fearlessness when it comes to accepting death as a natural part of life.
VEGVISIR TATTOO - THE NORSE COMPASS
Many tattoo artists still find inspiration for their art in various Viking motifs. The Vegvisir symbol, commonly called the Norse compass, is undoubtedly one of them. Vegvisir is considered not only the symbol of travelers and sailors but also the symbol of guidance and shelter in difficult times. Vegvisir was very likely used by Odin, the most powerful of the Norse gods, who was himself a traveler, but thanks to his magical compass, he never got lost.
SLEIPNIR TATTOO - ODIN'S STEED
Whether you consider yourself an animal lover or not, it is hard to believe you wouldn’t like Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged steed, who is considered the fastest of all creatures on Earth. So if you sometimes feel like you can’t do everything on your own, get a Sleipnir tattoo and sleep peacefully, knowing there is someone to carry you when your legs are tired.
MJOLLNIR TATTOO - THOR'S HAMMER
According to Norse mythology, there was no weapon more powerful than Mjölnir, Thor’s famous hammer. Mjölnir could cause storms, earthquakes, floods, and wars in just minutes. So who wouldn’t want to have such a powerful weapon when facing daily obstacles as a tattoo?
WHAT DO VIKING TATTOOS REPRESENT?
As you can see, Viking tattoos are mainly based on some of the most important Norse symbols and mythical stories. Their motifs were not chosen at random, as they have the purpose of protecting and guiding each man individually. As a Viking, you could know everything about a person’s life just by looking at their tattoos. Different styles of runes and symbols could inform you about a certain Viking’s origin. The placement of the tattoo, its design, and its meaning could tell you about their profession, family, and, most importantly, the Norse gods they honored the most.
Viking tattoos were meant for much more than just aesthetic appeal. They were often attributed magical powers that could, for example, help you gain more wealth, success in war, or general prosperity. Historians suppose that getting the first tattoo in the Viking era was also an initiation ritual during which young boys and girls were welcomed into the adult world. This ritual was probably followed by the first beer, the first arm ring, and the right to be considered an equal member of society.
I leave you again with a video about tattooing!
IN CONCLUSION...
We hope that after reading this article, you have realized the widespread misconception that Viking tattoos are only meant for people of Scandinavian origin. You do not need to be a biological heir of Odin to proudly wear some of his symbols on you at any time. All you need to have to get one of the many Viking tattoos is love and appreciation for the Scandinavians, their culture, and their traditions.
Thank you for reading me, it is a pleasure to write for Odin's Hall, the reference brand in accessories inspired by Norse mythology.
You can visit our collections of Viking jewelry, which will be a first step before a Norse tattoo.
You can also continue your reading by discovering the history of Viking beer, for example.
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