Reviewed & updated: October 19, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
You have probably seen one or two Ouroboros tattoo designs in your life, but you didn’t know how their names. An Ouroboros tattoo has a snake on it, which is in a circle, therefore eating its tail. While this may sound scary, tattoo designs like this one are beautiful and can have a lot of meaning to them. Therefore, here are some of our favorite Ouroboros Tattoo Ideas!
What Does The Symbol of a Snake Eating Its Tail mean?
The Ouroboros design originated in Egypt. It is a symbol of a snake, serpent or a dragon eating their tail. Ouroboros is the symbol of life and death. Since it is done in a circle, it can also be looked at as the cycle of life.
1. Ouroboros Dragon Tattoo
Dragon Ouroboros ancient symbol:

A dragon is a trendy Ouroboros tattoo choice for men because of its masculine design. When you show a dragon eating its tail, it doesn’t need to be done in a perfect circle like other Ouroboros tattoos. You can do it in black ink, and you can also add additional symbols to it. Since this Ouroboros tattoo has a lot of lines to it, be prepared for some level of pain.
2. Jormungandr Tattoo Designs

In case you have gotten a few tattoos before and aren’t afraid of higher pain levels, then this Ouroboros tattoo design is for you! This tattoo includes a Jörmungandr creature that can be found in Nordic mythology. It represents a serpent that is one of the scariest and mighties snakes of the sea. So if you choose this Ouroboros tattoo, there is going to be a lot of badass meaning behind it!
3. Small Ouroboros Symbol Tattoo

Unlike the last tattoo, this Ouroboros is done as a small and simple tattoo. It can be done in a discrete place on your body, making it perfect if you have to hide your tattoo from conservative work or family members. Ouroboros tattoos like this one don’t have a high pain level to them, so they are great for beginners!
4. Ouroboros Tattoo Forearm

Ouroboros tattoos can be very versatile when it comes to design. You can do it in only black ink, or you can add color to it. The tattoo can also be done straightforwardly, or you can do intricate lines and details. This Ouroboros tattoo can be done in one session, and it won’t fade as fast because of its placement.
5. Serpent Ouroboros Tattoo

Ouroboros tattoos are the perfect wrist tattoos. You can do the Ouroboros symbol around your wrist or arm, making it seem like an infinite circle. It can also be a part of another tattoo. You can choose whether you want the design to be very intricate or straightforward. It can also be small, making it easy to hide.
6. Colorful Ouroboros Tattoo

When doing an Ouroboros tattoo, you can decide if you want to do it in only black ink or if you want to add some color to it. Ouroboros tattoos can look like a real piece of art when you do it in color. Not only is your tattoo going to be more catchy, but it is also going to look unique. Be aware that colored tattoos fade faster and tend to hurt more than black and grey tattoos.
7. Fullmetal Alchemist Homunculus Tattoo

The Fullmetal Alchemist, which is an anime show, made a specific Ouroboros tattoo design famous. This Ouroboros tattoo has the same meaning, just with a bit of a different style. It can look like a fireball or an infinity pool. Designs like this one are very intricate and unique, making them perfect for all tattoo lovers!
8. Chest Ouroboros Tattoo

This chest Ouroboros tattoo combines several different tattoo elements into one big tattoo. Besides the Ouroboros symbols, it also has the designs of Runic Viking letters. Make sure that you find an experienced tattoo artist since this tattoo is quite challenging. Also, an Ouroboros tattoo on your chest that is this big will have a high pain level to it. So be prepared for that, but we are sure it will be worth it!
9. Very Detailed Elbow Ouroboros Tattoo

Ouroboros is an excellent template for detailed tattoos, so if you want to turn your body into a work of art, you have found the perfect tattoo! You can do it anywhere on your body, but we are sure that with a design as cool as this one, you will want to show it off to everyone.
10. Half Sleeve Ouroboros Tattoo Designs

While you can keep your Ouroboros tattoo small and simple, you can also turn it into a sleeve tattoo. It can work as a cover-up tattoo since the design is quite intricate. One great thing about Ouroboros is that it can be done in so many different ways. You can do it with one snake or five of them. The Ouroboros can be done with a dragon, and you can do so many amazing things with this tattoo!
Having Said All of That,
Ouroboros is a fantastic tattoo idea. You can decide how you want to do your Ouroboros tattoo; there is a menu of choices for you! The Ouroboros style and design have a lot of meaning behind it, and it also looks mesmerizing. We hope you liked today’s article, and maybe you have found inspiration for your next tattoo!
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Feature image from Pinterest