Tattoo designs, Aztec tattoos, Native American tattoo ideas

I am an artist. I paint Aztec Gods (when I can get them to hold still!). My website (see link below) lists all of my paintings and artistic endeavours.

Recently, an unknown fan wrote to me and sent a photo of her body art which is a tattoo of my logo! She had stumbled across my page and liked the design so much that she had it permanently inked into her skin! Needless to say, I was impressed. She gave me permission to use the photo of her tattoo, and here it is.

That got me to thinking and perusing my 'catalog' of Aztec designs. There are quite a few that would make excellent tattoos! I began playing with the graphics in photo shop and here are some of the results - read on...

March 14, 2010 - Update:

• Aztec Tattoos, Part II
• Aztec Tattoos, Part III
• Aztec Tattoos, Part IV
  

The stars were very important to Mesoamericans. Venus, the rising star, was probably the most recognized glyph design of the native Americans

I look at this design and see a flower, but it's actually a bright star glyph with an eyebrow. It represents Totonametl and is also known as a flaming arrow. It is the calendar name - One Reed.

The Aztec god most associated with Venus and the star glyph is Quetzalcoatl himself - the Feathered Serpent. The journey of Venus as an evening star and then as a rising star is the model for the myth of Quetzalcoatl, the god who travels into and throughout the underworld, conquers the forces of darkness and death and returns as the rising star.

New! More hubs about aztec tattoos:

• Aztec tats, part II
• Aztec tats, part iII
  

Since a lot of folks like snake tattoos, here is the twisted form of Quetzalcoatl's graphic design. I have painted this design and it has sold, but there is no reason why someone could not put this in ink as a tattoo.

Feel free to play with colors. The Aztecs loved bright colors. Some colors make better skin art than other colors. I'm sure there is a tattoo artist that can do this design well.

Here's a great little glyph that would make an interesting tatto!

Cipactli is an Earth creature that represents the first day god of the Aztec Cosmos. Some people refer to the Cosmos as the Sun Stone, so you should have an idea of what that looks like. If not, just Google the Aztec Sun Stone and you will see the whole thing.

The glyph of Cipactli is drawn with an upper jaw only. He has sharp teeth and a heavy eyebrow. I think maybe some other civilizations know Cipactli as a dragon. But Quetzalcoatl could have been a dragon too.

The second most important glyph of the Mesoamerican Natives is the light glyph.

This glyph has several meanings and is drawn something like a flint knife. This represents the flint itself, a spark, the light from the spark, knowledge and sacrifice.

Yep, those crazy warriors used flint a lot, most notably to cut the beating heart out of a sacrificial victim! Yikes! What a way to go.

The Light Glyph really fascinates me for some reason. It's easy to draw and will make a very interesting tattoo!

If you like these graphic design ideas and you want to see more, please vote and leave me some feedback! Add comments below

I hate talking to the 'Internet' and would like to meet new people.

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If you have one of these designs tattoed on your body, please send me a photo and a story about it!

Thank you!

Lela

I would like to thank Tomas J Filsinger who wrote The Aztec Cosmos and put the Aztec designs in a booklet form. I bought the booklet many years ago on a journey to Mexico to visit some of the Mesoamerican ruins.

This book has been my bible regarding most of the Aztec and Mayan glyphs. Please let me know if you can find another copy of A guide to the Poster and Sun Stone by Mr. Filsinger as my copy is just about worn out!