21 Top Scorpion Tattoo Ideas With Meanings
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Scorpions have been popular designs in the world of body art. They are most commonly seen as omens, often depicting something dark and evil. Scorpions are fatally poisonous, which can seem like one of the reasons they are not associated with something good or auspicious. Hence, making sure you know the exact meaning of the design is imperative. Due to their dark undertones, scorpions are forbidden or offensive in certain cultures across the globe. However, they make for superb tattoos as they are easily recognizable and have a rich history.
If you are planning on getting yourself inked with this enchanting and mysterious creature, get ready to flaunt your personality with meaningful and eye-catchy designs listed below.
21 Scorpion Tattoo Ideas With Meanings
1. Tribal Scorpion Tattoo Design
This design is so versatile that you can mix and match it with other designs, based on your preference. Most often, an individual chooses to get a tribal scorpion tattoo as it symbolizes protection from evil spirits. This version of the scorpion tattoo can represent the fighting spirit of the wearer and is inspired by the tribes of South Asia and Africa.
- Best Suited For: Men
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Sleeve, back, and calves
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Suits all skin tones.
2. Traditional Scorpion Tattoo Design
Sporting a traditional scorpion tattoo means that you embrace the creature for both its positives and negatives. Just like the scorpion, the wearer of this tattoo is said to be silent and extremely watchful and takes a long time to study their enemy before striking them and ending them in one clean swipe. This power also leads them to be a protector for their loved ones and the values they stand for.
- Best Suitable For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Sleeve, forearm, or thigh
- Size: Any size
- Skin Tone: Suitable for fair and extremely fair skin tones.
3. Scorpion Tattoo On The Forearm
This is a bold and enigmatic design that signifies that the wearer is extremely self-confident. This tattoo design is also a symbol of healing power. It looks attractive when done using a contrast of inks – like in this one where the silhouette made using black ink is placed on top of a red ink circular pattern.
- Best Suited For: Men
- Preferable Ink: Contrasting colors
- Placement: Forearm
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for fair skin tones.
4. Rose And Scorpion Tattoo Design
Combining a scorpion with a rose gives this tattoo a soft yet edgy appeal. The rose is widely known as a symbol of love, passion, and care. The similarity between the two lies in the fact that roses, though beautiful, can hurt anyone with their thorns, and scorpions, which can be seemingly small, can be intimidating. Both these elements have multifaceted characteristics, which say the same about the wearer who can be pleasant and dangerous.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Any ink
- Placement: Neck, sleeve, and thighs
- Size: Medium to large
- Skin Tone: Ideal for all skin tones.
5. Mortal Kombat Tattoo Design
If you are a video game geek, the scorpion mortal kombat tattoo can be an inspiration for your next tattoo. This tattoo can help bring back personal memories to life. Though gamers might identify with it more, anyone can sport this tattoo.
- Best Suited For: Women and men
- Preferable Ink: Combination of colors
- Placement: Forearm, shoulder, and wrist
- Size: Small to medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for wheatish and fair skin tones.
6. Scorpion Tattoo On The Arm
This tattoo is made using dark colors and neat lines, indicating love and kindness. It can represent the person’s devotion to their family, friends, and other loved ones. This design shows an individual’s ability to come out as a winner against any difficult situation in their personal lives.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Wrist and neck for women, and arms and sleeves for men.
- Size: Small and medium
- Skin Tone: It comes out best on medium and dusky skin tones.
7. Scorpion Leg Tattoo Design
This design is mainly sported by teens and young adults. It represents all the traits and characteristics of a scorpion, both good and bad. Anyone who gets scorpion tattoo designs done can remind others that they are strong, stealthy, and not the kind to be messed with.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Calves, arms, and waist
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for fair and wheatish skin tones.
8. 3D Scorpion Tattoo Design
If done properly, a 3D scorpion tattoo can make it look like an actual scorpion is crawling onto your skin. This design is mostly about the appeal than the meaning. However, this bold design can mean that you have an outgoing personality and are not afraid to face even the most difficult situations.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Arms
- Size: Small and medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for medium to fair skin tones.
9. Scorpion Zodiac Tattoo Design
This is the simplest, chic, and most appealing tattoo design. The Scorpion sign is a symbol of resistance and struggle. You can add elaborate embellishments as well as any amount of customization to give it a personal touch.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Dark colors
- Placement: Neck, fingers, and wrist
- Size: Small
- Skin Tone: Ideal for all skin tones.
10. Minimalist Scorpion Tattoo
Minimalism gives any type of art a unique and elegant appeal, and the same goes for body art. People usually go for minimalistic designs when the tattoo holds a lot of significance for them, but they don’t want it to attract a lot of attention. This tattoo can denote a person’s fighting spirit while also being a personal style statement.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Ankle, wrist, or shoulder
- Size: Small
- Skin Tone: Best on fair and dusky skin tones.
11. Tiny Scorpion Tattoo
Tiny tattoo designs are mostly used to define the bold personality of the individual while being amazingly detailed. This tattoo looks attractive and the shading makes it a great option for anyone.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Fingers, neck, and wrist
- Size: Small
- Skin Tone: Ideal for fair, extremely fair, and dusky skin tones.
12. Simple Scorpion Tattoo
A few Samarians believe that the scorpion is a symbol of the sun. According to them, they are responsible for protecting sacred things, leading to enlightenment, ascension, and glee. These are mostly seen on the arms and can also be done on the chest of people who have a strong, protective, and religious nature.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Black, maroon, and red
- Placement: Shoulder, arms, and neck
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Works well on fair and medium skin tones.
13. Scorpion Tattoo On The Foot
This is a lovely sketch design that signifies passion, edge, and sophistication. The clean lines and gradient coloring make this design stand out. It can signify that the person is a perfectionist and pays attention to detail.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Calves, ankles, and forearms
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for wheatish and fair tones.
14. Scorpion Tattoo On The Back
A stinging scorpion tattoo is a great choice that is done best as a large design. Combine it with a flower, and you get both the traits of a scorpion in one. On the one hand, it is preparing to strike, and on the other, it has a flower that brings out the softer aspects. It shows that you can stay positive and caring even in the face of adversities and obstacles.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Upper back, sleeves and thighs
- Size: Medium to large
- Skin Tone: This design is best for medium skin tones.
15. Scorpion Tattoos On The Neck
Traditionally, neck tattoos are supposed to be small designs that people get to drive the attention away. But, how about changing that and giving the typical neck tattoo a new spin with this design? This is a silhouette of a scorpion made on the side of the neck. The dash of watercolors can be a reminder of your playful self while battling something difficult in your life.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Neck and back
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for dusky and wheatish skin tones.
16. Scorpion Tattoo On The Wrist
A scorpion tattoo on the wrist can look intriguing and exotic. It depicts that the individual has a confident personality, just like a scorpion.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Wrist
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for fair and wheatish skin tones.
17. Forearm Tattoo Design
The scorpion stings any creature that poses a threat, and the skull warns one of imminent danger. This tattoo combines both of the elements beautifully with intricate colored patterns, which make them look edgy and chic.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Various colors
- Placement: Waist and forearm
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for wheat and fair-skinned people.
18. Scorpion Sleeve Tattoo
This design gives a positive feel to the scorpion by using soft lines and light shading as it is often thought to have a dangerous appeal. The flower lends it a natural and harmless look. Many believed that a scorpion’s venom had the power to heal a person while transcending from reality, and scorpions are also associated with spiritual growth, and this design depicts it the best.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Sleeve
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Goes with all skin tones.
19. Realistic Scorpion Tattoo
Realistic tattoos are an all-time favorite, regardless of the design. This tattoo makes the scorpion come almost alive. It looks like it is crawling on the skin of the wearer.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Forearms and sleeves
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for wheatish skin tones.
20. Scorpion Tattoo On The Shoulder
This is a scorpion sketch design that looks inevitably stupendous when designed using shades and gradients. It takes some design inspiration from tribal tattoo art. It symbolizes strength and power to battle anyone, regardless of their position, size, or stature. This stems from the fact that despite being small, a scorpion isn’t afraid to fight head-on and defend itself.
- Best Suited For: Women
- Preferable Ink: Black
- Placement: Shoulder, sleeves, and back of the neck
- Size: Medium
- Skin Tone: Ideal for fair and extremely fair skin tones.
21. Geometric Scorpion Tattoo
Any geometrical pattern is formed by neat lines and sharp figures. This geometric scorpion tattoo traces the silhouette of a scorpion using straight lines. It looks good in whichever ink you choose to do it and is a great minimalistic tattoo design.
- Best Suited For: Men and women
- Preferable Ink: Black, blue, and brown
- Placement: Wrist, forearm, or near the collarbone
- Size: Small
- Skin Tone: Ideal for fair and medium skin tones.
There are different stories around the symbolism and meanings of scorpion tattoos. While the scorpion represents a zodiac sign, it can also hold a bunch of other meanings. From religions to mythologies, you can find the significance of scorpions everywhere. Let us look at what scorpions mean in different parts of the world.
Mythological Significance Of Scorpion Tattoos
- Greek Mythology
According to Greek mythology, a scorpion symbolizes a fast-paced fighter who delivers lethal results. If you are a wrestler, boxer, or a street fighter, a scorpion tattoo can help depict that aspect of your personality. It can also depict someone who is a survivor and has gone through a life-changing obstacle that he/she has come out conquering, such as an accident or a fatal disease. This originates from the myth about a giant Orion being ambushed by scorpions on orders of Artemis, who was angered by him. Later, when she found that her anger was misguided, she decided to honor Orion and place him amongst the stars – the reason we have the Orion constellation.
- The Bible
The Bible describes a story of the Israelites trampling scorpions underfoot as a metaphor for victory over the terrible acts or “poisonous forces” of the devil.
- Ancient Egypt
Scorpions played a vital role in ancient Egyptian history. Coincidentally, Egypt is also where the most dangerous and huge species of scorpions reside. It is believed that Isis, the Egyptian goddess, used scorpions to protect herself while she searched for her lover’s body. Hence, scorpions are also considered symbols of protection. Another theory is that people used to pray to Serket, the Egyptian goddess, to ease pain during childbirth, associating the scorpion with maternal sacrifice.
- Mayan Culture
Ancient Mayan culture associated scorpions with surgery because they are known to numb their victims before stinging.
- Mexico
Scorpion is the symbol of the state of Durango in Mexico. There are many Mexican gangs and cartels that use scorpion tattoos as their body ink, because of the menacing appearance and dangerous characteristics of a scorpion.
- Buddhism
Scorpions have been found in engravings on amulets, personal seals, and sword handles in a variety of Buddhist cultures as a protective talisman. In Buddhism, the scorpion is seen as a symbol of reconciliation. One Buddhist myth of the ninth century states that the king wished for yak-sized humongous scorpions and was later rewarded with them for ending the abuse of monks.
If you are looking for an enchanting yet dark subject for your next tattoo, scorpion tattoos are a good choice. Although anyone can get this tattoo, the pattern, detailing, size, and color will differ based on individual tastes. Make sure what you choose matches your personality perfectly and goes well with the meaning you are trying to get out there. Also, remember to take precautions before and after you get a scorpion tattoo done.
We hope these intriguing designs have piqued your curiosity. Which of these scorpion tattoo designs enchanted you? Share your feedback with us in the comments section below.
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