105+ Hades Tattoo Ideas to Bring Your Favorite Myth to Life!

From statues to Disney concepts, there are plenty of Hades tattoo designs for you to choose from!

As an art history major, the Greek gods have always fascinated me. I was especially interested in the story of Hades and how his stoic nature gave way his love for Persephone - it was a great tale! So, I am always excited to discuss these elements with clients who come in for a Hades tattoo.

In this post, I will show you the top Hades tattoo ideas - everything from old concepts to modern designs so you can decide which one is right for you!

The Best Hades Tattoos

Here are the top Hades tattoo designs for you to choose from:

Hades Statue Tattoos

I have to say that this is probably one of my favorite Hades tattoo designs.

For this kind of Hades tattoo, you take inspiration from the statues of the Greek god. Therefore, your Hades tattoo looks as though it is constructed from marble.

The most common avenue for such a Hades tattoo is to have the background done in black and the tattoo in white. This helps to create a contrast and works with lines and shadows to give your design definition.

While this is a truly stunning Hades tattoo idea, I do have to warn you that it will take a talented tattoo artist to recreate such a design for you. So, make sure to choose your tattoo artist with care.

Illustration Hades Tattoos

Do you like sticking to the classic concept of Hades but don't like the marble effect? In this case, you should look to illustrations that are found in books, pottery, art, etc. as inspiration.

In these instances, Hades is portrayed as a mature man, with a lined face. He also has long hair and a long beard.

For this kind of Hades tattoo, you do have the option of choosing academic sources to determine how Hades should be represented.

Or, you can embrace your creative license with your Hades tattoo and choose to depict him however you want.

Hades Character Tattoos

For this kind of Hades tattoo, you have a reimagining of the Greek god. He is drawn in the same way that you would a graphic novel character or even a cartoon character.

So, if you are looking for Greek mythology tattoos that can be brought to life, this is the design that you should get.

What I like about this kind of Hades tattoo is that you get a lot of creative license here. As a result, you are free to choose how Hades looks.

This is a good option if you would like a Hades helmet tattoo as you choose how Hades is outfitted in your design.

This means that if you want, he can be represented as a young man. Or, you can remain true to the Ancient Greek stories and have him depicted as being more mature.

You also can change up the style that you draw him in. Your Hades tattoo could be represented in the traditional Greek style. Or, you could even borrow from another culture like Norse mythology.

In short, the options are endless. You have the chance to be as unique and as creative as you like with your Hades tattoo.

Cerberus Tattoos

If you like the stories about Hades but would like a slightly different take on this concept, you can choose to get a Cerberus tattoo instead.

This is a great idea if you want a really cool tattoo concept - after all, what is more awesome than a tattoo of a three headed canine.

There is also a pretty cool story about Cerberus, it is the guardian of the underworld. The creature is what keeps the living out of the realm and the dead trapped inside.

You have a few different options for this kind of tattoo as well. For instance, you can get a tattoo based on traditional artwork, much like what you would find on pottery or murals.

This can be a good idea if you want a more classic looking tattoo.

On the flipside, you can choose to get a tattoo that has a more animated element to it. This could be based on graphic novels or comics based on these stories.

If you want a mix of these two concepts, then you can get a tattoo with a traditional tattoo style. This adds a modern vibe to your tattoo while keeping the overall concept of the tattoo vintage.

If you would like to do something different with your tattoo design, then you can substitute real dog breeds instead of the hell hounds. Once again, this tattoo idea works well if you want to draw parallels between the modern world and the ancient one.

Persephone Tattoos

If you are interested in Hades, then you will have undoubtedly heard of Persephone.

As the story goes, Hades was incredibly lonely by himself in the underworld. One day when he was visiting Earth, he noticed Persephone, the beautiful young daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.

Hades fell in love with her and stole her away to live with him in the underworld against her wishes.

When Demeter realized that her daughter was kidnapped, she abandoned all of her duties, allowing her crops to fail as she searched for her daughter. With the help of Zeus and Hermes, she discovered that her daughter was being kept with Hades and demanded her return.

Unfortunately, Hades had tricked Persephone into eating a pomegranate seed, binding her to the underworld. He did make a deal with Demeter, though, where Persephone could spend 8 months of the year on Earth. Four months, however, she had to spend in the underworld with him.

Greeks believed that it was Demeter's distress at having her daughter apart from her for these months is what brought the barren summer along.

If you like the Hades story but prefer a softer approach, then you should consider a Persephone tattoo instead.

Although Persephone was taken to the underworld unwillingly, she was a good queen. She was also a light in an otherwise dark place.

And, so, your tattoo could be a complement to the darker Hades symbol.

Hades and Persephone Tattoos

There are many versions of the Hades and Persephone story. As one version goes, Persephone was initially taken to the underworld against her will.

As time passed, though, many believe that she began to fall in love with Hades and that they lived together quite happily.

If you do like the romantic aspect of this story and want to portray the two together in your Hades tattoo, there are a few different concepts for you to consider.

One of the designs that I really like is with the two hands reaching out to grasp one another. One hand is skeletal and the other is human. This is to represent the light and the darkness of these two ancient figures.

If you would like something a bit more detailed, then you can draw a portrait of each person. You can choose to remain true to the original classic design or you can create more modern portraits or symbols with the help of your tattoo artist.

Of course, you also have the option of combining the two elements together as well.

Disney Hades Tattoos

Like a lot of people, the first time that you encountered Hades was when you watched the Disney movie Hercules. He was the antagonist of the film.

Despite this, there is no denying that Hades was the best part of the movie! Not only was he the perfect foil for the hero, but he also made watching him a whole lot of fun.

He was charming, cunning, dynamic, and just the right amount of dramatic. So, it would only make sense for you to want to get a Hades tattoo of this version of the legend.

What Does a Hades Tattoo Symbolize?

It is important to understand the full Hades tattoo meaning before you get one! To appreciate the meaning behind this tattoo, you have to first know the Greek mythology story behind Hades.

According to Greek mythology, Hades was the son of the titans Cronus and Rhea and brother to Zeus and Poseidon. The three brothers overthrew the titans and divided the kingdom among themselves.

So:

What is Hades the god of?

After the rebellion, Hades gained dominion over the underworld. Now, interestingly enough, in Greek mythology, the name Hades is given to both the underworld god as well as the place that he rules.

Hades is also referred to as the underworld that consists of various levels. Those who die are placed in a certain level based on the severity of their crime as well as their punishment.

Contrary to popular belief, Hades is simply an underworld god - he doesn't pass judgement on those who enter his realm. This Greek god simply oversees his kingdom. So, while he is depicted as an evil god, his role as a villain in Greek mythology is minimal.

In fact, Hades is a misunderstood character.

The Greek god is often described as aloof and forbidding. He is even referred to as loathsome. Despite this, he appears to have a benevolent nature and is frequently pictured next to a cornucopia. He is also considered a just god, not open to bribery.

Due to this, a Hades tattoo can be the perfect tattoo if you would like to depict a dual nature or someone with hidden depths. It could also be a good tattoo for someone with an unmoving character, a person that sticks to their morals.

You should keep in mind that how you view Hades is based on your own personal perspective. For instance, some people see Hades as a stoic yet lonely man who got the raw end of the deal when he was tasked with taking over the underworld.

These people will also paint Hades as a desperate romantic that kidnapped Persephone so that he wouldn't be alone anymore.

There are others that see him as being colder and more selfish and only interested in taking what he wanted.

What Does the Cerberus Tattoo Mean?

If you are considering getting a Hades tattoo, you may also be thinking of extending your design options to Cerberus - the three-headed dog that guarded the underworld. There are some versions that said the dog had up to fifty, though!

Cerberus was tasked with keeping the dead inside the underworld and preventing living humans from entering the realm.

As the story goes, though, this incredible beast can be calmed with music. It is how Orpheus gained passage to the underworld.

In case you are wondering why you should get a Cerberus based tattoo, there are a few reasons. For one thing, Cerberus can be a powerful symbol of guardianship.

At the same time, the creature isn't unnecessarily violent. It is only interested in keeping the bad in and the living out.

And, despite its nature, this mythical creature can still be soothed with the right touch. This could be a good reference to your own personality.

Well, there you go - all the ideas for a Hades tattoo that you could possibly need. It doesn't matter if you want something true to the mythology, something creative, or even something romantic - you will find it all here!