Odin was a god of war, yet also revered for his wisdom and intelligence. His enemies feared him, and people throughout Scandinavia still associate his symbols with life and death.
This weapon can wreak havoc upon mountains with one strike, and Thor also uses it to bestow blessings upon those around him. Throughout the Viking Age, Norsemen would pray to Thor for strength and protection for their warriors and loved ones. It was believed that He would grant them victory and welcome them home to Asgard once their battles were over.
Odin’s Ravens tattoo design is inspired by the two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, who served the Norse god Odin. These birds would fly around the globe, reporting what they saw to Odin. Once they returned, the birds would perch on Odin’s shoulders and whisper all of their knowledge into his ears. This gave Odin immense information and allowed him to become an all-knowing god. Huginn, meaning “thought,” and Muninn, meaning “memory,” flew all over Midgard at sunrise every morning to collect information from all realms. They returned to Odin at dusk with all they had seen and heard that day.
The Norse mythology tattoo of Jormungandr is an ideal way to demonstrate your devotion to the gods and the cycle of life. Jormungandr is a giant serpent that circles the globe and lurks beneath the ocean. It was born of Loki, and its archenemy was Thor. Jormungandr isn’t necessarily evil, and his defeat in Ragnarok underscores a key theme in Norse mythology: change and the futility of trying to control forces outside one’s control. Another reason Jormungandr is significant in Norse mythology is his role as father to Loki, one of many trickster gods present in Nordic legend.
Yggdrasil is an immense tree that links together the nine worlds of Norse mythology and unites them. It plays a prominent role in many stories related to Thor and Odin. Yggdrasil is the universe’s central axis mundi, linking realms of gods, giants, and humans alike. Additionally, it symbolizes life and growth since it is the source of everything. The tattoo of Yggdrasil offers an unusual perspective, as the tree grows over the shoulder rather than standing upright, like most depictions of this mythological tree. It features Celtic-styled daggers, bird or wolf faces on its branches, and a Celtic knot design.
