A gargoyle tattoo has become an increasingly popular request among tattoo enthusiasts. A tattoo artist will generally use a black ink with an intricate shading technique to create this monotone piece of art.
Gargoyles are architectural stone carvings resembling a mythological creature or even a human form. In Medieval times they helped in warding off evil spirits and protected the buildings they resided on. Celtic styles incorporated Green Men - human heads with branches and foliage - to be a sign of divinity. Gothic cathedrals used stone gargoyles as a water spout to direct water away from the sacred building.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5V4NYvMGzfBrg-L8gpdQtLHA-7UO7F592cZyzoCZ4xZ_FJUPO0DePZJAD3kiQl8FaBhOVAzO55Xc83qseItFIuG771wHOAOMZdOxuTfa2HDCjPufcoqy7Mt5s8xpbviqXfX15PTfwwc/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-2.jpg)
Sometimes, a gargoyle tattoo depicts a combination of animals. These mythological creatures were called 'chimera'. The griffin is another well known tattoo that merges the features of an eagle's wing and a lion's head together that represents dignity and nobility.
Human skulls are also sometimes used within gargoyle tattoos and are believed to protect the wearer from an early death. Therefore, a person who chooses to wear a tattoo does not merely do so as a fashion statement but because they believe in traditional values.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsAtwx2KcSkjpbq-UR9KE44XtmM9zjpCIouqzhmCTb0yzVP8VTlCT6NReMIVvQy707uNE7K7HqkDQSHEFcwokrvteeq1JUWwrXaMJxTtPLtBIM7k4ybGF8jXQfMPXFjZ82ANNvy7le4I/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-12.jpg)
Some gargoyles are depicted as a demonic creature with talons, tails and horns and elongated ears. Gargoyle tattoos can also be a combination of ram, boar and felines.
A gargoyle tattoo is usually done in Gothic styles in darker shades of brown, gray or black. It is normally posed in a hunched stance. They are often depicted with a scary face with fangs and unfriendly temperament sitting alone atop tombstones, castles or churches.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuNnR2nPNr16DjBCHFgDwL3JPPkH4Mixo99BAw-V37w2UxtVb39ognLhEL_ggfyleUT_rCXrEZM0W065dmjFz2QPiyY0Rr4kNPD0v5fATul3HwCLWk5zwjadOJbW1aODt7g0MdI0H54s/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-8.jpg)
Quite a few gargoyle tattoos will blend gargoyles from different cultures and eras, to form a truly unique design. These tattoos could depict a Japanese gargoyle sitting alongside a Celtic gargoyle as well as a European gargoyle, creating a disconcerting yet great effect.
Gargoyle tattoos might appear to be grotesque and scary in their appearance but their true nature is quite the opposite.
Gargoyles are architectural stone carvings resembling a mythological creature or even a human form. In Medieval times they helped in warding off evil spirits and protected the buildings they resided on. Celtic styles incorporated Green Men - human heads with branches and foliage - to be a sign of divinity. Gothic cathedrals used stone gargoyles as a water spout to direct water away from the sacred building.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzp7a2_FO5ZyVsHU355MQHWNLNeVfhPWsZmIDRbwRxq1pzopU0TGdU_r9gjNLM5HAC4p9g_BxVc1XNUQLUKMW-hbfxOVIcdts1bnuNRTxt0MBLAmsogPxAHRAWCDyqS_cwcjHcveZVWuc/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-5.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukcXxS_VGDcAx65mVa8apRPvDYfAC9tOWi2ajUAXoW7CJfxzVvR36CbIDU23ZvLaK-AC4feUhDmVNCjo-vEYBY4d0OuMh8g8FBxPnQpc5OzXsWCpewfg_hawA2eWItbawN_N7U02hHsg/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z5cXc6Js_JiLMANcDnIAjTFlealwoZKu9K7V-qm_TXmYqstGcJCgCFgsX8rT3joKl7sHo6DtDXdn-pwxuHmfpnzVqrzA3TBDCzg1L2RMfVAfgY-_b77QKTKFpaME20UEgCwaSfbY1N0/s400/gargoyle-tattoo.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5V4NYvMGzfBrg-L8gpdQtLHA-7UO7F592cZyzoCZ4xZ_FJUPO0DePZJAD3kiQl8FaBhOVAzO55Xc83qseItFIuG771wHOAOMZdOxuTfa2HDCjPufcoqy7Mt5s8xpbviqXfX15PTfwwc/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-2.jpg)
Sometimes, a gargoyle tattoo depicts a combination of animals. These mythological creatures were called 'chimera'. The griffin is another well known tattoo that merges the features of an eagle's wing and a lion's head together that represents dignity and nobility.
Human skulls are also sometimes used within gargoyle tattoos and are believed to protect the wearer from an early death. Therefore, a person who chooses to wear a tattoo does not merely do so as a fashion statement but because they believe in traditional values.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyCDzXtJdNuIdd3Q4VL3ownxIe0vnYRpdOP16zueoZ_AlCeA2vXHxafIFlh271fUaIRrqPm4QXX9mdjeUs8o85EIraxh7b3YFLa4A_pRBat-lJVMewGIN9iMAoaRd2m2-y4XcoAhEeIE/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-9.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3UND3NZd4KkMpLnmWJeY5A8BXL0cEz2PVQpbhuWjo5POrFLL-fKDs3FMnUrVJBr1oNfWJEvixegqRSciUN3lluiH6UzbV2PtfCbkUtEGQ7g_X9olUeaLGTjlae0Zs7Mbmz0RyuK4NtU/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-10.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSdT9NPGfXXw6nmY26n2UQ-KHa3rf6RaQgKry2z1sjBMgbldA224jWaAZIOdqoiWOvEgOS2vwn5xwXTvQjXsThez4vkIsj6eXlYKbjNqcHtGUWy_KjORocNcJF1KM0qQd8SCftidtzBw/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-11.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsAtwx2KcSkjpbq-UR9KE44XtmM9zjpCIouqzhmCTb0yzVP8VTlCT6NReMIVvQy707uNE7K7HqkDQSHEFcwokrvteeq1JUWwrXaMJxTtPLtBIM7k4ybGF8jXQfMPXFjZ82ANNvy7le4I/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-12.jpg)
Some gargoyles are depicted as a demonic creature with talons, tails and horns and elongated ears. Gargoyle tattoos can also be a combination of ram, boar and felines.
A gargoyle tattoo is usually done in Gothic styles in darker shades of brown, gray or black. It is normally posed in a hunched stance. They are often depicted with a scary face with fangs and unfriendly temperament sitting alone atop tombstones, castles or churches.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFXw_fdJ3wML9yPPb0l8JZOupYXIo_e1BIlHontupjPfM8PvAXHL7GYo1rauOUf5f3wX3tO7tlE0AqttlXdKYvvc3SzeOR0nYeTgi6T5IXs0zZ7Celwx9THVgNcOSkW2zUII8Ij_YQ1s/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp0e48YoP4V8LJeMGhIRPl9RN64TtWBDNigfVMXmgAmB6m__QBsiSheZUowyp6yT1Ai-aWXe_9Z9qYyaBMnjF-5vt3tNNHCERDLmzu1dlqDM2AeqzEba3TuUzFfKhpb6vwHj9yc3g-HQ/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-6.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wdizkM19MN3cE1g-mf6gOY_NG8RBbrHJYyFlS9dTT9Igh9v5AZONyIhQE83Cq2kuycAZS8mUv7eTrPOX43vo8oG-gJQl_1kD4e419ibxEBnd0au2gDIcG2NT6M-oMysWQxS3Gs5k2iQ/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-7.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuNnR2nPNr16DjBCHFgDwL3JPPkH4Mixo99BAw-V37w2UxtVb39ognLhEL_ggfyleUT_rCXrEZM0W065dmjFz2QPiyY0Rr4kNPD0v5fATul3HwCLWk5zwjadOJbW1aODt7g0MdI0H54s/s400/gargoyle-tattoo-8.jpg)
Quite a few gargoyle tattoos will blend gargoyles from different cultures and eras, to form a truly unique design. These tattoos could depict a Japanese gargoyle sitting alongside a Celtic gargoyle as well as a European gargoyle, creating a disconcerting yet great effect.
Gargoyle tattoos might appear to be grotesque and scary in their appearance but their true nature is quite the opposite.