Grim Reaper Tattoos

A grim reaper tattoo sounds quite shocking at first but it is the choice of many, many people (mostly guys). It has powerful symbolism and can look very artistic if done well. In this article, I'll tell you more about the meaning behind this tattoo and some of the many variations that have been done so far.

Grim Reaper Tattoo Meaning

Many cultures like to personify death. One English name for death is the "Grim Reaper". Nobody knows exactly who coined the term or the popular depictions of him - in many cultures, he is also cloaked and carrying a similar weapon so the Grim Reaper as we know him today could be an amalgam of these cultures.

Typically, he is a skeleton and is cloaked and carrying a large blade called a scythe. According to mythology, when someone sees the Grim Reaper, it can be a sign of imminent death.

So why would someone want to get a tattoo with such meaning?

First, good tattoo artwork of skeletons and anatomy is admired by many and is among the most creative of all tattoo work. Secondly, death is an all conquering theme. We will all die some day and we are all aware of this. We cannot escape this. Getting this type of tattoo can be a sign that you are not afraid of your eventual destiny.

Variations In The Reaper's Look

The Reaper is depicted in a variety of poses. The standard look is with the robe and the scythe. Sometimes though, he appears without the robe, sometimes the tattoo is only of the hooded face.



Another good way to get him inked is with an open hand. The Reaper is known for offering his hands to those who will die and when someone spots this tattoo, they may be shocked!

I have even seen Grim Reaper tattoos that are partially in a tribal style. This is extremely rare and difficult to pull off.

Above all, grim reaper tattoos are nearly always done in a monochrome/greyscale style. It is quite rare to see one that is vivid with many different colours.

Slavic Depiction Of Death - Lady Grim Reaper Tattoo

Most cultures view Death or the Reaper to be a man. However, some, such as Slavic cultures, depict Death as a woman carrying a deadly green sprout in her hand.

If you are female or you prefer to have a female depiction then this could be a good idea for a tattoo.

You will find a lot of people who have these Grim Reaper tattoos. These are the most popular ones around! Although people say it personifies death a lot of people also think that it's a symbol which defies death. This is also a sort of rebellious tattoo so you can see a lot of bikers with this tattoo.

Now the classic Grim Reaper tattoos are very popular but if you add a little twist to the tattoo, give it a personal touch. This will make it different from the rest of the tattoos. All you need to do is either look up the net but this won't be completely original or use your own imagination.

Now a nice idea is to add roses to your reaper tattoo. This is like a contrast between the dark colours and even to some extent death. You can add red roses which will make a perfect contrast or you can even add purple or orange roses. This is where your rebellious nature comes out.

If you are looking for something evil then you can add a skull to your reaper. This is if you want to personify death. The skull and reaper are both associated with death so both together will look brilliant.

The next thing you could do is animate your tattoo. Just turn it into a cartoon. This is the apt thing to go for if you don't want anything that is hardcore evil or even rebellious. This version simple makes the reaper look cute and takes away the evil element from it.

Now another thing you could do is fool around with the angle of the tattoo. The size of the tattoo can be altered too but most of these tattoos are big ones. Since a lot of detail needs to be done so make sure you place the tattoo on your arm or your back so that the details are visible properly. But before getting it make sure that you really love the design of the Grim Reaper tattoo after all you will be stuck with it for the rest of your life.