Egyptian symbol tattoos: best ideas and meaning

Egyptian symbols in tattooing: meaning and symbolism

The Eye of Horus is the best known – a protective sign of the god Horus, tied to health, watchfulness and defence against harm. Not to be confused with the Eye of Ra, which looks similar but carries a solar, punishing meaning. The ankh is the "key of life": a cross with a loop, a sign of eternity and of the soul's immortality.

The scarab stands for rebirth and transformation – dung beetles rolling their ball were an image of the sun travelling across the sky. Anubis, the jackal-headed god, accompanied the dead and weighed their hearts; in tattooing he is read as a guide and protector. The Egyptian cat ties to the goddess Bastet and to protection of the home.

Modern meaning and personal reading

Today Egyptian symbols are chosen mainly as protective signs – the Eye of Horus and the ankh are among the most tattooed motifs in this group. A reading through personal transformation is common too, with the scarab standing for a closed chapter.

Anubis and the weighing-of-the-heart scene tend to be tied to the loss of someone close and to coming to terms with death. An addition – hieroglyphs, a name in a cartouche, pyramids or a solar disc – turns a common sign into something only yours.

Styles and design variations

Our gallery is dominated by clean blackwork and fine line – these symbols have exact geometry and it is the black line that holds them. The Eye of Horus, the ankh and the scarab work small on the wrist, forearm, neck or behind the ear.

Larger work goes to realistic black and grey: Anubis, Cleopatra, pharaonic masks, pyramids and temple scenes on the arm, chest, back or thigh. Dotwork and ornamental treatments suit solar motifs and fills. Colour enters sparingly, usually as a gold or turquoise accent nodding to the original palette.

Our artists like to experiment, and they will build you something that still makes sense to you years from now.