Memento Mori tattoos are a unique way to reflect on one’s mortality. The phrase “Memento mori” is Latin for “remember you will die,” which is a sign to always live life to the fullest with no regrets. But there is no singular meaning for a Memento Mori tattoo. In this article, we will explore the history of memento mori tattoos, their meanings, and everything you need to know before getting one yourself!
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Memento Mori Tattoo Meaning
Memento mori tattoos symbolize mortality, most often associated with the Christian faith and used in many other cultures and religions. It usually takes the form of a skull or other bones but can also be represented by symbols such as butterflies. Memento mori tattoos are popular with those who want to remember their mortality and live life to its fullest while they have it!
Memento Mori Tattoos are popular in cultures that hold death as an essential part of their existence.
In Christianity, they represent Jesus’s crucifixion as he rose from his tomb on Easter Sunday. Early Christians used the skull to represent Christ’s human soul, which has defeated death after three days by rising again so it could live with God forever. For those who follow Buddhism, Memento Mori symbols are reminders to stay alive every day because nothing lasts forever – not even life itself! You can take this literally or figuratively depending on your perspective – either way, you’re sure to find a memento mori tattoo design that speaks to you!
Lastly, for those who follow the Mexican tradition of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Memento Mori symbols are commonly seen in the celebration and memory of deceased friends and family members. These symbols can be found painted on altars across Mexico during this time – making them a special memento mori symbol.
People often get Memento Mori Tattoos as a tribute to someone they love or respect who is no longer with them. Some people even choose to get a memento mori tattoo without any particular person in mind; instead, they simply want a reminder of how short life is.
Designing Memento Mori Tattoos
The tattoos are most widely seen in the form of a skull, which was originally used to identify the dead during plague epidemics. Memento Mori tattoos also serve as a reminder of the lives lost during these tragic events.
In some cases, these designs may also cross over into other cultures – mainly traditional Japanese style ink work, which often includes skulls or skeleton imagery within larger pieces such as sleeves. In Japan specifically, death is an integral part of their culture, with Buddhism celebrating life by acknowledging its end, while Shintoism celebrates death as part of life.
Memento Mori tattoo designs can be simple or very ornate, depending on your taste and preference.
There are many different memento mori tattoo styles available. In the past, I’ve seen memento mori tattoos designed with skulls or angels. Recently, I saw a memento mori tattoo with a woman who had been holding a mirror in her hand. I saw another memento mori tattoo on which a person was playing a pipe of eternity.
A memento mori tattoo can include many different things – skulls, angels, women holding mirrors, or musical instruments such as flutes symbolizing people playing music in heaven. Many of these symbols come from medieval art and literature, where artists would paint images of memento mori on the walls of churches.
The possibilities are endless when designing your memento mori tattoo, so be sure to put a lot of thought into what type of design best captures your personality before choosing one for yourself.
Placement
Where should I get a memento mori tattoo? The answer to this question is different for everyone! There are many places where you can put a tattoo on your body, and it will still be meaningful.
The arm is a great place to put tattoos because they can be easily hidden if necessary by wearing a long-sleeved shirt. It’s also easy for people who work in a corporate environment to cover tattoos on their arms.
Another good location for tattoos is the foot because the foot is often not visible when wearing shoes. It’s also easy to cover the tattoos on your foot with shoes when necessary.
The third location that is popular for memento mori tattoos is the hands. It’s easier to catch others’ attention or see it while you are working. It makes sense to get a memento mori tattoo where you can see it all the time for a constant reminder!
Memento Mori Tattoo Designs & Ideas
Hourglass Memento Mori Tattoos
Hourglass tattoos are a popular choice as a way to symbolize the inevitability of death. People have been wearing hourglass tattoos for centuries as a way to represent the inevitability of death. In the 15th century, the Dutch made prints with these words to remind people about their mortality. The images often depicted skulls, skeletons, or other symbols of death.
Hourglass memento mori tattoos consist of an hourglass with a skull near it to represent that life is short and all things must end eventually.
Traditional Memento Mori Tattoos
Traditional tattoo designs for this type of tattoo are often straightforward. A skull with a laurel wreath is the most common design. It can also include a coffin, tombstone, or a grim reaper. The purpose of these tattoos is to remind the wearer that they are mortal and should live life to its fullest. Furthermore, it is a symbol of honor for those who have achieved great things.
Blackwork
A blackwork tattoo is a type of tattoo that uses only black ink. You can get a blackwork Memento Mori tattoo in any style, but it’s most often “loose, freehand work.”
Colorful Memento Mori Tattoo
Colorful tattoos are becoming more popular. Colors tattoos make the design more visible depending on the background of the person’s skin. Memento mori tattoos are usually designed in black ink, but you can use different colors depending on your tattoo style and design.
Memento Mori Tattoo on Forearm
Skeleton Memento Mori Tattoo
The skeleton and the skull have been associated with death for a long time. One of the prevalent themes for Memento Mori tattoo designs is The ‘Dance of Death,’ a late 15th-century allegorical painting by Hans Holbein the Younger.
In it, death leads a group of figures from all walks of life to the grave. It is one of the most famous images in Western art.
The painting can be interpreted as a didactic warning against worldly temptations or a demonstration that death comes to everyone. The skull at the bottom symbolizes mortality and memento mori.
Hence people incorporate skeletons and skulls in their Memento Mori tattoo designs.
Skull Memento Mori Tattoos
Skulls symbolize death and mortality in many cultures, so people use skulls in their Memento mori tattoo designs. For example, some Native American tribes would wear these on their clothing to never forget about life’s fragility or how quickly it can end.
Lettering
If you would like to keep your tattoo design simple the try lettering tattoos. You can use any fonts that you want to write Memento Mori. They look great on the wrist, hand, and arms.
Various Memento Mori Tattoos
Conclusion
In conclusion, Memento Mori tattoos are one of my favorites for many reasons. Not only because they’re beautiful and creative pieces of body art but also because their imagery represents so much more than just death itself. Their deeper meaning makes them great symbols to use in memory of those we’ve lost while celebrating life at every turn – which is something we can all work towards if you ask me!
If this blog post has inspired you to get one yourself or given you some ideas to design your Memento Mori tattoo, drop us a line below with your thoughts on these designs because we’d love to hear what you have to say about them!!
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