If you could go back in time somewhere around the 10th century, you could have the unpleasant experience of running into a Scandinavian Viking on the European or North Atlantic shores. Fortunately for you're valuables, you will have to settle for a modern day Viking tattoo instead.

Vikings were warriors with swords traveling by ship with the goal of raiding and thieving their way to survival. Most of the evidence of their culture comes from archeological finds, since the concept of writing on paper was not invented in their time.

Some later writings have surfaced, but the more reliable sources of information come from longships and runes left behind from ages ago.

All things change through time, and the perception of the Vikings has definitely benefited from this. Though they were likely vicious, ruthless raiders who left death and disruption in their wake, many now see them as heroic.

Viking tattoos are often used to portray manly strength, courage, and victory. They are sometimes shown standing at the tip of a ship at sea with large swords held up in the air. This is the ultimate sign of victory; of champions.

Viking Tattoo Pictures:
A Viking tattoo can also represent the darker side of the culture. Some present close-up facial portraits of men with the characteristic long, shaggy beard. Others trade the beard for patches of animalistic fur across the face and shoulders. These portraits typically feature piercing eyes portrayed with dark black and white shading.
The concept of the Viking is similar to that of the pirate, but the symbols used in each tattoo are quite different. They symbols that many Viking tattoos have in common include the sword, ship, and beard. Most are also displayed with muscular, strong bodies.
Some may be represented on horses and may have elaborate headgear. For the most part, these are strong tattoos designed to deliver a perception of courage, danger, or fear.
Picture of a superbly drawn viking back piece featuring a pair of warriors armed for battle. Donning long beards and fierce expressions.
Picture of a color-rich viking tattoo featuring a blonde headed man with braided hair and piercing eyes. Design is located on the shoulder and upper arm.
Here we see some traditional viking artwork featuring a scowling male with horned headgear and long facial hair.
Picture of a viking warrior armed with a sword and posed in a striking fashion. Once again we see the classic horned helmet upon his head.

Horseshoe tattoos are usually chosen for their symbolism. They are a well known sign for good luck, but are also acknowledged as a symbol of protection. For some, the horseshoe is simply a sign for the state of Texas and there are some patriotic horseshoes created with the flat of Texas as a backdrop.

In the early 1900s, horseshoes were commonly hung upside down beside doorways. This was believed to protect the home, since no witch could pass through the doorway when protected by the horseshoe.

Some horseshoes are still found hanging by doorways on homes and buildings in various areas of the world. There are some horseshoe tattoos created with the upside down design to symbolize this type of protection.

Horseshoe Tattoo Pictures:
Many of these tattoos are simply designed to symbolize luck. They can feature a horseshoe turned in any direction, depending on the design and the symbolism intended for specific tattoos.
Most designs will incorporate other decorative elements and many will include words or slogans related to luck, lady luck, or the luck of the Irish. The designs are only limited by the imagination and creativity of the designer.
The most infamous horseshoe of all time has to be the one Amy Winehouse wore on her left shoulder. She had a large decorative horseshoe turned upward on the top of her shoulder. The words "Daddy's Girl" were tattooed around the horseshoe, with the first word on the top of her shoulder and the second word sitting below the horseshoe on her arm.

This tattoo has become famous and is even sold as a temporary tattoo online today. The singer is no longer alive, but her tattoos continue to make a lasting impression on fans around the world.
Horseshoe tattoos can have sentimental meanings, such as the one worn by Amy Winehouse, or they can simply be a symbol of luck, good fortune, or protection.
Picture of a superbly designed chest piece including two swallow birds, the phrase "Born To Lost Live To Win", accompanied by a horseshoe centerpiece and flaming background and a pair of nautical stars and playing cards.
Picture of a large nautical star with an equally sized horseshoe serving as the framework of the design.
Picture of a cute piece of artwork located on the back of the calf. A design that features angel wings and a name dedication.

The phoenix tattoo is a sign of rebirth. It is the sign of longevity and long-lived prosperity and strength. This symbolism comes from the mythological origins of the phoenix. This mythological bird has been a prominent figure in folklore across many cultures, including Greek, Egyptian and Chinese cultures. It has even been associated with Catholicism, as a symbol of the rebirth of Christ.

The basic myth is that the phoenix lives for up to 1,000 years, then builds its own nest of twigs and ignites in flames. Once the entire nest and firebird burn away, an egg appears and the phoenix is born again. There are many variations on this basic myth, depending on the cultural reference you study.

In the modern world, the phoenix tattoo is among the most sentimental available. It is almost exclusively used to symbolize some type of rebirth or turning point in life. Almost every person who gets some creative form of a phoenix tattoo has a personal story behind the design.

Phoenix Tattoo Pictures:
The tattoo represents something deep that has happened in their life. In this way, no two phoenix tattoos are the same. The actual design of the bird and the colors chosen may be very similar in some cases, but the meaning that the tattoos hold for the person wearing them is almost always different.
In some cases the tattoos will represent a personal transformation while in other cases they may symbolize the belief that someone who has passed away still remains on earth in some form.
Phoenix tattoos can portray colorful birds with lots of beautiful feathers, but they can also be very minimalistic. They can appear as a tribal design in some instances, since they are etched in black and white in a pattern similar to many tribal tattoos. The basic symbolism stands behind them for most people, but great creativity can be used in the design process.
Picture of flaming phoenix in a striking position located on the back of the calf.
Picture of a high quality three dimensional bird with wings spread and extended tale. Design located on the back of a man.
Large masterpiece located on the right hip, ribcage and torso of a woman.
Here we have yet another picture of a excellent flaming phoenix tattoo. Breathing fire and located on the shoulder and upper arm area.

There are so many different Egyptian tattoos in existence today that it would be rather difficult to create a collection of them all. What brings all of these tattoos together is the incorporation of basic themes, people and ideas that represent ancient and modern Egyptian culture. Some of the more common design features incorporated in Egyptian tattoos include:

• Ankh (cross symbolizing Ancient Egypt)
• Egyptian Goddesses (each with their own symbolic and mythological meanings)
• Scarab beetle
• Tombs
• Mummies
• Hieroglyphics
• Mau (cats)
• Eye of Horus
  

There are some very unique designs that can be incorporated into Egyptian tattoos as well. For example, the idea of creatures that are half human and half animal are very popular in the tattoo culture. These tattoo designs have their roots embedded in ancient Egypt.

What is unique about Egyptian tattoo artwork is the culture that they are inspired by. Ancient Egyptians mostly tattooed women. Some of the first tattoos known to man are now being discovered on the bodies of mummies found in Egyptian tombs. These tattoos were often created with dots or slashes in order to create very basic pictures or hieroglyphic words.

Egyptian Tattoo Pictures:
Commonly used for fertility purposes, these tattoos were found more often on women than men.
Today, Egyptian tattoos are common with men as well as women. They are often used for the meaning of hieroglyphic designs, but many get them simply because they like the look of these ancient designs.
Some are simply black and gray while others can be very colorful with elements of gold. Most of the designs are very pleasant and peaceful in appearance, however, there are others that are specifically tailored to be disturbing in nature. Some are even quite romantic, such as those designed after the Egyptian Goddess of Love.
Egyptian tattoos can have a wide variety of meanings. Some may be sentimental, other are based on ancient traditions and beliefs, but most are used for their symbolic meanings or simply for their attractive appearances.
Picture of a wonderfully designed tattoo that combines the Eye of Horus with an Ankh. Plus a tribal inspired pair of wings.
Picture of a Egyptian warrior bird armed for battle and located on the right shoulder and tricep area of a man.
Picture of extensive artwork on the back of a man. A compilation of numerous designs including a large Pharaoh centerpiece.
Picture of an excellent tattoo on the lower back of a woman. A classic Egyptian symbol of a women with extended wings and head wear.
This cute masterpiece is a bit of novelty featuring a mummy-cat with skull, ankh and other elements of the culture.

Star tattoos can be designed to represent something personal or they can be chosen simply for their appearance. Stars are often incorporated into larger tattoos with a lot of fine details, though they are just as often presented independently. There are many different types of stars that can be chosen from and some artists will design their own stars with different colors, designs and shapes.

Two of the most popular star tattoos are the shooting star and the nautical star. Both of these images have a rich history in the tattoo world and can stand for different things. They are also very diverse in the way they are presented in tattoo form.

Shooting stars by nature shoot through the sky with brilliant beauty but then quickly fizzle out to nothing. Tattoos with this design are often used to symbolize periods of life that were short lived, but which will always be remembered. It is common to find names etched into the centers of these stars or somewhere in the stream of the rising star.

Nautical stars are tied to servicemen and women of the U.S. Navy and Marines Corps. Yet, they are used heavily by people who associate strongly with the sea today. These star tattoos have a very clear design with a particular pattern of shading or coloring.

Star Tattoo Pictures:
Both of these types of star tattoos can be shown as individual stars or as groups of stars. They can also be incorporated into other tattoo designs. For instance, nautical stars will often appear in tattoos reflecting ships, water, skeletons, roses and cherries, among other designs.
Star tattoos are extremely popular in Hollywood. You could compile a long list of celebrities that feature some type of star on their bodies, including Drew Barrymore and Gisele Bündchen. This is probably because celebrities think of themselves as stars, though some select star images for personal reasons just like everyone else in the world.
Picture of a pair of swallow birds perched on small branches while holding cherries with a smattering of small and large stars covering the back.
Picture of a lovely flower and a stream stars located on the hip and torso area of a woman.
Photo of a bright and colorful design featuring several musical notes mixed with numerous stars of various shapes and sizes.
Picture of many solid stars in black ink located on the stomach of a woman. The three larger designs all possess a unique shading and stencil effect.
And finally we see five solid black and bold designs gracing the top portion of a right foot.

Some of the more interesting spider tattoos are designed to pop off the skin. They have great depth and appear to be real spiders sitting on top of the skin, rather than ink dug into the skin cells. These spiders range from small bodies with long skinny legs to tarantula images with thick hair, legs and wide bodies. They can be presented in solid black ink, sketched on like stick figures, or decked out with bold coloring.

Beyond realistic images, spider tattoos also include those fashioned after the famous comic book character turned television superhero, Spider-Man. These tattoos often work with the image of spider webs and the black spider symbol associated with the Spider-Man character.

An example of this is the Spider-Man tattoo etched across the chest of basketball player Darren Moore. He is such a huge fan of the Spider-Man comic books and movie series that he covered his chest in an elaborate spider web with a large black spider image presented right in the center. The image doesn't necessarily tie itself directly to Spider-Man, but Moore confirmed that was the inspiration through several interviews.
Spider tattoos are also commonly associated with Halloween. Many designs include spider webs, fangs, venom and other details that bring the spook factor that is common with Halloween lovers. They aren't always intended to reference the holiday, but that is usually the vibe that they give off to others.
Much like snakes, tattoos featuring spiders are also very versatile. You may see one small spider etched on the side of the wrist or an over-sized spider resting between the shoulder blades. They can be subtle in black or designed to stand out with bold colors or intricate designs.
Some are made to look so realistic and three-dimensional they can actually scare others upon first glance. Others are generic images that lie flat on the skin and don't have any realistic qualities at all. With so many variations to choose from, there is definitely a style for everyone.
Picture of creepy large black window artwork on top of the right foot, stretching around to the ankle.
Photo of a lightly colored design featuring a somewhat cartoon-like creature. Located on the upper arm area.
Picture of shocking spider tattoo design on the inside of the hand. Featuring a large web with a pair of creepy crawlies. One on the pair and another on the fingers.
Picture of another brightly colored masterpiece. A hybrid design that combines a large heart as the body of the insect.
This is a snapshot of the before-mentioned basketball player, Darren Moore, showcasing his elaborate spider chest artwork.