Nidhogg Tattoos (Norse Dragon) and Their Meanings
In the Nordic language, Nidhogg means “curse-striker,” or “he who strikes with malice,” which makes sense because the Nidhogg is a very evil Nordic dragon.
The Nidhogg in mythology is known for constantly injuring the Yggdrasil, which is the tree that connects the entire universe, by living underneath it and terrorizing it by eating its roots.
Understandably, this has detrimental effects on the cosmos and brings the entire universe into chaos.
What a crazy creature!
Now, let’s take a look at what a tattoo of a Nidhogg means.
Nidhogg Tattoo Meanings
A Nidhogg may be responsible for the destruction of the cosmos, but there can not be good without evil.
You may want to get a Nidhogg tattoo because you are embracing your dark side.
Nidhogg tattoos represent power because Nidhogg has incredible strength.
If you consider yourself to be a powerful person with a lot of mental strength then you could get a Nuddhog tattoo to symbolize that.
Nidhogg tattoos also represent the idea of falling from grace.
If you have recently made a mistake that you greatly regret then you could get a Nidhogg tattoo to not only represent that mistake but to remember it forever.
You may ask, why would someone want to remember a regrettable decision?
Many people want to remember their mistakes so that they can learn from them and therefore a tattoo representing this event can help to remind you not to make that mistake again.
Now that we know what Nidhogg tattoos mean in general, let’s take a look at some Nidhogg tattoos designs and their specific meanings:
Nidhogg Tattoo Designs and Their Meanings
Nidhogg tattoos are interesting because this long dragon-serpent has a cool look.
A lot of times, the Yggdrasil tattoo is incorporated into the design, and sometimes other Viking symbols are added to the tattoo.
Let’s take a look at some Nidhogg tattoo designs:
- Nidhogg Strangling Yggdrasil Tattoos
It is common to have a Nidhogg tattoo of a Nidhogg dragon-serpent snaked around the trunk of a Yggdrasil.
This is a common version of this tattoo because it represents the main mythology concerning the Nidhogg tattoo, which is that the Nidhogg is slowly strangling the Yggdrasil.
If you have this tattoo design, it means that you believe in the existence of evil in the world and the duality of man.
It symbolizes how sometimes evil is a necessary trait in the universe.
- Nidhogg in Yggdrasil Roots Tattoos
Another similar Nidhogg design is one where the Nidhogg is mixed in with the Yggdrasil’s roots.
This tattoo symbolizes how it is evil in the world that is slowly tearing it apart and representing your awareness of good versus evil.
This tattoo can also represent a mistake you have made that you wish to rectify.
- Nidhogg Dragon Tattoos
Some Nidhogg tattoos show the Nidhogg in its dragon form alone without the Yggdrasil.
These Viking tattoos represent great power and also illustrate how everyone has a dark side.
These tattoos are usually medium-sized and often are shown on the arm, chest, or back.
They also mean that you have incredible strength in both the mind and the body.
- Nidhogg Viking Sleeve Tattoos
It is common that Nidhogg tattoos are part of a large Viking-themed sleeve that incorporates many other Viking tattoo symbols, or that the Nidhogg is alone but very large and wrapped all the way along a person’s arm.
These tattoo sleeves are more typical in men because they are highly masculine and represent strength and power.
Conclusion
In many ways, the Nidhogg tattoos symbolize a darker side of life, one that is a part of each and every one of us.
Sometimes, it is important to embrace this dark side because we cannot run away from it since it is embedded in our souls.
However, there are other reasons to receive a Nidhogg tattoo because they also represent strength and power.
The Nidhogg is a highly powerful creature that is not to be messed with– if you feel as though you don’t want people messing with you, then this is a great tattoo to get.
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