Death tattoos: the main depictions of the Grim Reaper

There are a variety of different ways that the Grim Reaper can be portrayed as a tattoo symbol. Most Grim Reaper tattoo designs portray the Reaper in a long black robe with his famous long scythe. The Grim Reaper can be shown holding his scythe in a variety of different positions, such as the front or over his shoulder. Due to the length of the robe, only certain parts of the Reaper are usually shown. Skeleton hands are usually seen holding the long scythe. Mostly, the legs are not visible and the Grim Reaper is depicted floating at some distance above the ground (occasionally surrounded by some green or blue mist). The face of the Grim Reaper is usually portrayed as a skeleton skull, with an evil grin and burning eyes. However, some Grim Reaper tattoos show the Grim Reaper as "faceless".

grim reaper / skeleton tattoo on the arm

Grim reaper tattoo - the most common representation of the Grim Reaper: a skeleton wearing a flowing black cloak and carrying a scythe; the skeleton has an evil grin on his face

faceless grim reaper tattoo / angel tattoo

faceless Death

floating Grim Reaper carrying a young girl

floating Grim Reaper; the legs are not visible

Sometimes, the Grim Reaper is depicted riding his legendary pale (or sometimes black) horse. This reference is from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as mentioned in the Christian Bible. Each horseman is named after the power he represents. The fourth horseman - the Death - is described as riding a pale horse. Sometimes the Greek word �chloros� translates the horse�s color as �green� or �pale green� which could be a reference to the green skin color of the deathly ill or recently deceased. It is actually the third horseman that rides a black horse; however many grim reaper tattoos feature the Reaper riding this horse possibly due to the traditional interpretation of the color black representing famine, decay and death.

Death / Grim Reaper riding his black horse

Grim Reaper riding his legendary Black Horse

the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Death is riding the pale-green horse

In some tattoos, the Death / Grim Reaper is depicted seated on a throne of skulls or on a throne decorated with human skulls. Sometimes, the Death's throne is in the top of a huge pile of human bones and skulls.

The Death's throne, decorated with human skulls

Other depictions (e.g.: Grim Reaper sitting on the bed of a dying man, sitting on branch of a dead tree, sitting on a cross, etc), although present in some tattoos, are not so popular as the above mentioned depictions: the floating Grim Reaper, Grim Reaper riding his horse, Grim Reaper on his throne.

Death looking for a victim

mother Grim Reaper and a Grim Reaper child

unusual depiction of the Grim reaper with a baby Grim Reaper

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Death Tattoos / Grim Reaper Tattoos: themes and meanings

Grim Reaper (also referred to as the Angel of Death) is a figure commonly used to represent death. The Grim Reaper became prominent in folklore during the Middle Ages, displacing earlier conceptions of Death as a benevolent, female figure. In 1479 in Cardiff, Duroc, seemingly a representation of Death who resembled a walking skeleton, appeared.

The Grim Reaper is often depicted as a skeleton or as a solemn-looking man wearing a flowing black cloak and carrying a scythe, who cuts off people's lives as though he were harvesting grain. Legend has it that he appears when one is nearing death to separate the human soul from the physical body using his sharp scythe. The Grim Reaper then chaperones the soul to its final destination (Heaven or Hell) and moves on to his next �appointment.� Although the Reaper is not a ghost, his is invisible and present at the moment of death.

Grim Reaper tattoos meanings:

The Grim Reaper and the Skull were often used as symbols in medieval and renaissance art as a stark reminder of the fact that life is finite and hints powerfully at the afterlife that awaits us. Various aphorisms and reflections (like "Memento mori", which can be translated as "Remember your mortality", "Remember you must die" or "Remember you will die") can be included in the design of these tattoos.

Carpe Diem (Seize the day)- the Grim Reaper tattoo can be a symbolic reminder that we are all mortal and to live life to the fullest and to accept your fate with bravery.

Death tattoos are very common among solders. As it represents courage, bravery, and not being afraid of death. You accept life for as it is, and strongly follow your goals.

Someone who has survived a grievous accident or life-threatening illness might get a Grim Reaper tattoo as a symbol of their triumph over death, or to remind themselves that just because they escaped once does not mean their future is certain.

The idea that "Life's a laugh and death's a joke" - usually, these tattoos contain comical or cartoon-like elements.

Below are several pictures with Grim Reaper tatoos:

Grim Reaper tattoo covering the shoulder and the upper arm

Black and white Grim Reaper tattoo

Death tattoo combining various elements: a skull, a clock - symbol of the of the relentless flow of time, a rose - a symbol of the ephemeral and the Latin phrase "Memento mori"

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Another failed kanji / hanzi tattoo

Yesterday I found this image on tattooingtattoodesigns dot com.

This tattoo can be found in the section called "asian tattoo design", but, if you ask me, it should be placed in a category called "Failed tattoos" or "misspelled tattoos", or something of this kind.

First, the translation of the ideograms is completely wrong: it's not "I am a goddess" (as the person who posted the photo thinks), it's just the word "goddess" awfully written.

The word ?? (pronunciations: nush�n in Chinese, joshin or megami in Japanese) is composed by these two ideograms:

the chinese / japanese ideogram for woman

This ideogram means "woman", "female"

the chinese / japanese ideogram for gods

This ideogram means "gods", "soul" or "mind". The ideogram is composed by two parts which MUST always be written together, not split in two, as the tattooer did in this case.

In the pictures below you can see the correct writing of this word:

goddess written in chinese / japanese - vertical writing

the word "goddess" written with Chinese / Japanese ideograms - (vertical writing)

goddess written in chinese / japanese - horizontal writing

the word "goddess" written with Chinese / Japanese ideograms - (horizontal writing)

The tattoo so proudly displayed on that girl's neck is just an embarrassing misspelled tattoo, but fortunately, due to its small size and its simplicity, it can be easily covered with another tattoo.

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Vacanti mouse

Such a special creature...

-"Say what?"

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Failed tattoos : misspelled tattoos 2

The first part of this post can be read here: Failed tattoos - misspelled tattoos 1. And now, let's see another series of failed tattoos:

You're right, dude, the pain is temporary (or tempary, like you've said), but your tattoo is not