8 Awesome Spartan Tattoo Ideas, Designs, And Their Meanings
Own your fierce, passionate, and instinctive personality with these Greek warrior tattoos.
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A Spartan tattoo featuring glimmering blades, shields, helmets, and fierce, ruthless warriors in action, is sure to have heads turn your way wherever you go. Although we do not walk with the mighty Spartans anymore, their legends keep them alive, serving as inspiration to live passionately in an increasingly dull world, generation after generation. If you are also one of those people thoroughly in awe of the Spartans and would like to get a tattoo in their honor, then you are at the right place. Here we have a whole bunch of interesting illustrations and design ideas that can help you create the perfect Spartan tattoo for you. Scroll below and check them out!
In This Article
Spartan Tattoo Meaning
There are endless songs, poems, and verses written, paying respect to and glorifying the unyielding, near-divine Spartans who were believed to have been forged in fire and shaped by steel. Generally, Spartan tattoos may symbolize the following core values:
- Ode to one’s Greek heritage
- Unwavering loyalty to the land
- Strength to carry on one’s duty no matter what
- Resilience to keep fighting against the odds
- Discipline to not falter from one’s path
- Sacrifice for the greater good of loved ones
Adding to these, a Spartan tattoo can hold personal symbolism to the wearer, expressing their attachment to certain facets of Greek history. If you share similar sentiments and would like some visual inspiration, then continue to the next section.
8 Unique Spartan Tattoo Ideas
A little knowledge of history and a little insight into creativity is all you need for a tattoo of these eternally glorious warriors. Bring the Spartans alive through the spectacular tattoo ideas below.
1. Forearm Spartan Tattoo
Flaunt your ambition and fierce personality with a spartan tattoo. The tattoo above features a stoic Spartan warrior woman who exudes confidence and charisma. Although historically, Spartan women were not trained in warfare, showing a woman dressed in Spartan military regalia can convey the rebellious nature and feminine pride of the wearer. It speaks of evolved modern times and the capacity of women to take agency of their own lives with a spirit as fierce as the Spartans.
2. Lion Spartan Tattoo
Both the lion and the historic Spartan soldiers are symbols of great strength, courage, bravery, and true warrior spirit coupled with the belief in carrying out one’s duty and protecting what is important till the bitter end. Therefore, a lion and a Spartan together can represent such intense emotions for the wearer who believes in charging through life and living each moment passionately.
3. 300 Spartan Tattoo
Inspired by the action movie from 2006, a 300 Spartan tattoo can be done with any element from the movie or the poster as the blueprint. For instance, the trash polka tattoo above shows a side profile of a Spartan warrior with grungy grey and black shading work and a deep, muted red for accents. These colors are reminiscent of the color grading used throughout the movie ‘300’.
4. Greek Spartan Tattoo
Decorate your Spartan tattoo with other symbolic Greek elements to express your fascination with their history and undying heroes. The tattoo above features the Spartan military helmet set atop the classic maze-like Greek key pattern that frequently features in ancient as well as modern Greek art and architecture. You may also play with other Greek elements like olive branches, Greek alphabets, or architectural columns. You may also use symbols related to Greek Gods; a thunderbolt for Zeus, a trident for Poseidon, an owl for Athena, and so on.
5. Molon Labe Spartan Tattoo
‘Molon Labe’ is a classic Greek expression of rebellion, defiance, or challenge, which means “come take”. It is attributed to Leonidas I who said it in response to the Persian king Xerxes I, challenging him for battle when he demanded that they surrender. The image above shows the Romanized version of the phrase within a banner, under a decorated plaque featuring the Spartan helmet. You can alternatively opt for the Greek version “ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ” if you would rather have it retain the Greek element throughout.
6. Small Spartan Tattoo
Here is something for takers of minimalistic art and design. The above tattoo shows are simple icon-style tattoo of just the Spartan warrior helmet, done in black and gray. The traditional tattooing style offers it bold lines and the rustic, vignette shading-work all over the shape, gives it a gritty effect, as if the helmet were an antique piece. Although a small, unassuming illustration, it encompasses the essence of the historic warriors who may be physically lost to time, but their legend lives on.
7. Cool Spartan Tattoo
A well-trained Spartan was said to be capable of taking on a full-grown panther by himself and emerging victorious. There are many ways to illustratively show this cool and charismatic side of Spartans. You can opt to show the ripped physical features of the warriors, pumped out as they are engaged in battle. Or as the tattoo in the image above shows, a Spartan depicted in a charismatic stance representing the other warrior he leads and some advanced shading, filigree, and other artistic details to make it stand out.
8. American Spartan Tattoo
Spartans were Greek but there is a trending internet Spartan tattoo concept featuring an Americanized Spartan to represent the spirit of the great Americas that have persevered through time to become a global superpower. You can customize this by creating the American flag on the shield or the cape the warrior is wearing.
We are sure these unique and innovative tattoo ideas have you just as impressed as we are. The color scheme and the overall features of a Spartan and their battle equipment have a strong magnetic power when it comes to attractive attention as tattoos. And if symbolism is the focus, then these do not fall short in that department either. These tattoos can be an homage to historic heroes that have captured your imagination, or simply instill in you the urge to live a disciplined and honorable life.
