Inspirational Raven & Crow Tattoo Ideas

Are you looking for an exciting and inspirational tattoo design? Then why not consider getting a raven tattoo – dramatic and symbolic!

You may be looking for inspiration to find the right style for you if you are prepared to get inked.

Why not try getting a tattoo of a crow or a raven?

Not only are crows and ravens exceptionally majestic, but they are also very symbolic, with numerous connections to myths, art, and history.

There are also several ways it is possible to perform raven tattoos. You’re sure to find raven tattoo ideas here to inspire and impress, from a flying raven tattoo that’s suitable for a large back piece to a minimalist raven tattoo that’s an ideal little adornment for a wrist or ankle.

What Does A Raven Tattoo Design Symbolize?

Raven and crow tattoos may have multiple interpretations, so it’s no wonder that all sorts of individuals are so common with them.

In mythologies from across the world, from Japan to Celtic traditions, ravens are particularly prevalent.

It is not too surprising, because of their black plumage, carrion diet, and croaking call, that the raven has always been synonymous with ill omens and loss, but their symbolism is also somewhat complex.

They also link the supernatural and natural realms together in mythology, folklore, and in literature, serving as a mediator between death and life.

The ravens have been associated with the gods as far back as Greek mythology, in their case with the god of prophecy, Apollo.

Claimed to be an omen of bad luck, they were messengers to the god of the human world.

Legend has it that Apollo sent a white crow or a raven to watch his lover, and when the raven came back and announced that she had been unfaithful, Apollo’s fury scorched his feathers, rendering them forever black.

The ravens were described in Islamic culture as the creatures who taught Cain the way to bury his dead brother, Abel.

In The Qu’ran, after murdering him, Cain didn’t know what to do with the body of his brother, but then he saw a raven burying his dead friend in the ground and copying his example.

Odin, the king of the gods, was identified with ravens in Norse mythology and had two of his own that would appear on his shoulders.

Muninn (memory) and Huginn (thought) were called, acting as his ears and eyes and giving him world news.

In Viking culture, ravens were also used, including on Ragnar Lothbrok’s banner that was embroidered with the image of a raven. The legend said that winning was guaranteed if the flag fluttered in the air.

The legend that says the kingdom will crumble if the last raven ever leaves the tower will be familiar to anyone who has ever been to the Tower of London in England.

In Hinduism, meanwhile, crows are considered to be ancestors, and food is given to them during the Sraddha festival. Also sometimes depicted as riding a giant black crow or raven is a Hindu god known as Shani.

The raven is not only the founder of the universe, but also a trickster deity in the folklore of the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. The theory goes that, in cedar frames, the Great Spirit kept everything that will make up the universe.

He gave those boxes to the beasts, who then opened them up to build the universe. The box containing all the light in the universe was offered to the seagull, but he declined to open it. The raven was asked to encourage the seagull to release the light from the jar, but it didn’t succeed, no matter what he tried.

So, the raven got angry and put a thorn into the foot of the seagull. The seagull lowered the box in agony and the stars, moon and sun came out and the first day began.

The raven and the crow have both made an appearance in fiction and popular culture. Most people are aware of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” in which the raven is a divine messenger and from which the famous line “quoth the raven, nevermore” is taken.

Many viewers would also be aware of the 1994 film The Crow, a superhero film starring Brandon Lee based on a comic book featuring Eric Draven, a rock singer who is brought back from the dead to avenge the rape and murder of his fiancee.

The movie is notably notable for the fact that Lee was unintentionally injured on set and later died as a consequence, and it has a strong cult following who are willing to get crow tattoos as a commemorative touch.

Why Get A Crow Or Raven Tattoo?

If you’re curious whether to have a plain crow tattoo or a practical raven tattoo, to answer the questions of others, you’ll need to know the definition of a crow tattoo.

While crows and ravens are synonymous with many negative symbols, these birds also reflect many positive qualities in fact.

As well as magic, security, mysteries, potential, inner-self, prophecy, thinking and light and darkness, they symbolize knowledge and intellect.

Whatever you like it to say, a tribal crow tattoo or raven arm tattoo will mean Maybe you just want to demonstrate your passion for birds, or your obsession with myths and legends?

Or maybe you’re a fan of the movie The Crow and you want to attest to your passions? Maybe you’re hunting for a dramatic and confident tattoo that speaks volumes about your personality?

Whatever the reason for wanting a traditional raven tattoo, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting the right design for you.

Raven Tattoo Ideas

There are numerous different ways to represent tattoo-format ravens or crows. One of the great things about these birds is that, to accommodate the style, they can be scaled up or down.

For a raven hand tattoo or something even bigger for a crow tattoo sleeve, you should go for a small style. You may choose a basic design drawn with a black line or a stunning watercolor raven tattoo that gives the design a more feminine touch.

In a raven shoulder tattoo or crow shoulder tattoo, crows and ravens may be represented perching, which looks particularly fine. Alternatively, they may be seen in flight, which on a crow back tattoo is especially esthetically pleasing.

Alongside other marks, tattoo patterns that feature crows and ravens are also depicted. A crow hand tattoo may have runes circling it, for instance, to highlight a Norse theme.

Or alongside blood, skulls or weaponry, a raven forearm tattoo may be illustrated. Or a crow neck tattoo could take on a theme of tribal art, related to Celtic magic and war ideas.

How To Care For Your Raven or Crow Tattoo

When you get a stunning new tattoo inked on your body, you also need to know how to take proper care of it, not only so that it can retain its appeal in the long run, but also so that a debilitating infection can be prevented.

You’ll get a bandage protecting the area when you come home after you have your tattoo. Keep the bandage in place for 24 hours, then strip the bandage and thoroughly wash the region with water and antimicrobial soap.

Do not ever use really hot water, as the color will disappear. Do not apply a bandage again, but be sure to wash the tattoo with soap and water at least twice daily before applying an antibacterial cream.

Do not expose your skin to intense sunshine or go swimming for a few weeks, which will help deter infection and ensure that your body art does not disappear.

You may note that scabs are starting to develop. This is natural, just don’t pick or scrape them, as it could cause inflammation and could ruin your tattoo’s final appearance as well.