Meaning of Snake Tattoos – Introducing Tribal and Cute Design

Snakes, with their mysterious beauty, remain a highly popular tattoo motif.

However, many people may not know what meanings are included in snake tattoos.

This time, we will introduce the meanings of snake tattoos and design examples!

Meanings of Snake Tattoos

Because of their unique appearance without limbs, and because some possess powerful venom that can sometimes be fatal to humans, snakes have been treated as important symbols across many eras and regions.

• Change and Rebirth: Snakes are said to symbolize change and rebirth because they shed their skin, discard their old form, and are reborn in a new one.
• Growth and New Beginnings: Likewise, because they shed their skin, snakes also represent growth, self-transformation, and new beginnings.
• Protection and Healing: In Greek mythology, Asclepius, the god of medicine, is depicted with a snake coiled around his staff, and is regarded as a symbol of protection and healing. The Staff of Asclepius is also used in the current logo of the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Human Corruption / Temptation: In Christianity, the snake is known as the embodiment of the devil that tempted Adam and Eve and led humanity into corruption.
• Vitality: Snakes are said to have strong vitality, as they can survive even after fasting for years, so they also carry the meaning of life force.
• Power and Danger: Snakes symbolize power and danger, and venomous snakes in particular are seen as symbols of fear and danger.

As above, there are many meanings, but you do not need to keep all of them in mind—please choose the one that feels right to you!

Snake Worship in Japan

In Japan as well, snakes have been regarded as sacred, and snake worship has been practiced at many shrines.

In Japan’s food culture, which centered on rice cultivation in paddy fields, securing water to grow rice was extremely important.

In that context, because snakes are often found in wetlands, they came to be regarded as messengers of the water deity or as the water deity itself.

And it is thought that their habit of shedding skin and regenerating/growing, along with their strong vitality, strengthened people’s awe and respect toward snakes and helped establish snake worship.

On the other hand, the Kojiki, a work of Japanese mythology, features a terrifying snake called Yamata no Orochi.

Yamata no Orochi had eight heads and eight tails, and was a fearsome snake that devoured village women, but it was defeated by Susanoo-no-Mikoto.

Based on this myth, Yamata no Orochi is sometimes used as a tattoo design.

To summarize the above, in Japan snakes have been treated as beings beyond human understanding in both good and bad ways.

Meaning-of-Ouroboros-Tattoos

The form of a snake or dragon biting its own tail and forming a circle is called an ouroboros.

Its name comes from ancient Greek meaning “tail-devouring,” and it has meanings such as the following!

• Eternity and Cycles: Ouroboros is an image of a snake biting its tail to form a circle, and just as it is sometimes drawn in the shape of infinity, it symbolizes the infinity and cyclical nature of time.
• Continuity of Creation and Destruction: The act of a snake eating itself represents the continuity of creation and destruction, suggesting the birth of new things and the end of old things.
• Integration and Balance: Ouroboros often symbolizes the integration or balance of opposites, expressing harmony between conflicting forces.
• Change and Rebirth: By eating itself, the snake emphasizes the concepts of rebirth and cycles, indicating the possibility of new beginnings and change.
• Symbol of the Inner World: Ouroboros is also important in psychology, and has been regarded as a symbol of the inner self by psychologists such as Carl Jung.

Snake Tattoo Designs

From here, we will introduce tattoo designs featuring snakes.

Even with the same snake tattoo, the vibe becomes completely different depending on the style and what motifs it is combined with.

Please look for one that suits you!

Snake Tattoo on the Wrist

This is a design example of a snake tattoo wrapping all the way around the wrist.

It is arranged so that when wearing long sleeves, only the snake’s head is visible, which is very stylish!

Snake Tattoo on the Collarbone

This is a design example of a tattoo drawn as if a snake is wrapped around the collarbone.

Since it is above the collarbone, it is a stylish placement that can be hidden depending on your clothes, or shown off subtly!

Snake and Skull Tattoo

This is a tattoo design combining a snake and a skull.

The eerie atmosphere of a snake and a skull make for a very compatible combination!

Ouroboros Tattoo on the Neck

This is a tattoo with an ouroboros placed on the back of the neck.

Placing a nearly symmetrical ouroboros tattoo in the center of the neck gives good overall balance and creates a fashionable mood.

Infinity (♾️) Ouroboros Tattoo

This is an ouroboros tattoo design drawn in the shape of infinity.

Because the design is a little more complex than a circular ouroboros, it has strong presence.

Tribal Snake Tattoo

This is a snake tattoo drawn in a tribal style.

The snake’s scales match well with tribal patterns, making it a very compatible combination.

Snake and Flower Tattoo

This is a design example combining a snake and flowers.

The snake is drawn with a relatively cute face, giving the whole design an overall cute finish.

Snake and Geranium Tattoo on the Waist

This is a tattoo design on the waist combining a snake and geraniums, with a sword in the center.

Geraniums are associated with meanings such as respect, trust, true friendship, and determination.

Snake and Rose Tattoo on the Collarbone

This is a tattoo design combining a snake and a rose on the collarbone.

The contrast between the rose and the snake’s expression—looking ready to bite at any moment—beautifully symbolizes the strength a woman carries behind her beauty.

Snake and Moon Tattoo

This is a tattoo design combining a snake and the moon.

The contrast between the white shining moon and the pitch-black snake makes for an impressive design.

White Snake and Rose Tattoo on the Upper Arm

二の腕に白蛇と薔薇を描いたタトゥーのデザイン例です。

The white snake is done as a white tattoo, so please note that not all tattoo studios can accommodate this design.

Snake and Butterfly Tattoo

This is a tattoo design combining a snake and a butterfly.

Since both are motifs with meanings such as change and rebirth, it can be said to be a very compatible combination.

One-Point Snake Tattoo on the Arm

This is a design example of a one-point size snake tattoo on the arm.

With a one-point tattoo, you cannot draw very fine details, but it has a cuteness unique to one-point size!

Tribal Snake and Heart Tattoo

This is a tattoo design in which a heart is drawn using a tribal-pattern snake.

One characteristic of this design is that at first glance it does not look like a snake!

Snake and Flower Tattoo on the Shoulder (For Women)

This is a tattoo design combining a snake and flowers on the shoulder.

The snake’s fierce expression and the elegant atmosphere of the flowers create a nice contrast.

Snake Tattoo on the Ankle

This is a tattoo design of a snake wrapped around the ankle.

Since there is more surface area than the wrist, the advantage is that you can focus more on details.

Japanese-Style Tattoo of Snake and Autumn Leaves (Wabori)

This is a design example of a Japanese-style tattoo featuring autumn leaves and a snake.

The red and yellow of the autumn leaves become a great accent against the brave, dragon-like snake.

Japanese-Style Tattoo of Snake and Peony (Wabori)

This is a Japanese-style tattoo design combining a snake and peony.

The snake, drawn in an American Traditional-like style, matches well with the colors of the peony!

Back Piece of Snake, Hannya, and Peony (Wabori)

This is a back-piece design featuring a Japanese-style tattoo motif of a snake, hannya, and peony.

It is said that when the resentment of a hannya becomes even stronger, it is called mashira (honari), a state in which it has almost transformed into a snake.

For that reason, hannya and snake are also a very compatible combination!