The Trident Tattoo Meaning and 110 Powerful Tattoos to Inspire You

A trident tattoo can represent power, creation, destruction, mindfulness, leaving the past behind, and more.

The first time I even thought of the meaning behind the trident tattoo was when I was asked to design one for a client. They told about some of the significance of the trident tattoo and it sounded so interesting that I had to learn more.

In this post I will guide you through the trident tattoo meaning and show you the different designs to accompany each meaning. Let's get started.

Trident Tattoo Meanings

Here, you can find trident tattoo meanings across all theologies and regions:

The Trident Tattoo and Greek Mythology

One of the most famous appearance of the trident is with the Ancient Greek god Poseidon - god of the sea.

Poseidon is an Olympian, one of the original children of Cronus and a brother to the mighty Zeus. He is also father to Pegasus, the winged horse.

According to legend, Poseidon was given the trident, a magical weapon, as a gift from the Cyclops. It was meant to be a show of gratitude as Poseidon helped to free the Cyclops from Tartarus with the help of his brothers.

It is believed that the trident is made from brass or gold. As the story goes, the trident has numerous powers. It can create earthquakes, separate sea from land, and creating rivers.

What is interesting about Poseidon and his trident is the temperamental nature of the master and his weapon. In ancient times, while the trident could be used to help people, it could also be used to create great destruction.

This is why they are popular power tattoos.

In this case, the trident tattoo can refer to your potential. The trident tattoo is a symbol that it is up to you to decide whether you should use your capabilities for good or for evil.

Considering the role that Poseidon plays in the ocean, sailors used to pray to him in particular. They prayed for safe passage on the open seas and the trident and trident tattoo became a symbol of seafarers.

Now, if you are more versed in Roman mythology, you may be thinking that Poseidon and Neptune, the Roman god of the sea sound rather similar.

Well, you wouldn't be wrong. The Roman gods are heavily based on the Greek ones. So, Neptune and Poseidon share many things in common, including the trident.

The Trident Tattoo and Hindu Mythology

If you are interested in Indian mythology, then you may have noticed that the god Shiva holds an object that looks a great deal like a trident.

Well, this is known as the Trishul and it is considered to be a symbol of god Shiva. Shiva is one of the most powerful gods in Hindu mythology. He is yet another god with a dual temperament.

On the one hand, he is constantly meditating and trying to improve his conscientiousness. He is also a symbol of power, benevolence, goodness, and is seen as a protector. He is meant to oversee and protect the Indian Vedic philosophy as well.

At the same time, Shiva is associated with time. Due to this, he is seen as the bringer of destruction and creation. He destroys to bring forth a new cycle of creation.

In this case, your trident tattoo could be a symbol that you are done with the old and ready for a new beginning. Your trident tattoo can also symbolize the cyclic nature of everything.

Shiva is also said to harness the power of evil spirits. In this instance, your trident tattoo could indicate you taking control over your own demons so that you can improve yourself.

So:

What does Trishul tattoo mean?

The trishul is meant to define the three states - waking, sleeping, and dreaming. Shiva is above these three states of consciousness but still has control over them.

Due to this, your trident tattoo can be associated with your desire to conquer these states. This could be a reminder for you to practice consciousness, conscientiousness, and meditation.

Many people also believe that the trishul represents the three types of pain: physical, spiritual, and ethereal. The trishul is meant to alleviate all these types of suffering.

So, this kind of trident tattoo works well for anyone who has experienced suffering and wants to leave this pain in the past.

The Military Meaning of the Trident Tattoo

Finally, there is a military meaning behind the trident and trident tattoo. This isn't too surprising as this has been a common symbol for weapons and warfare.

Well, the Navy SEALs, one of the most elite special forces team in the world has an insignia called the Trident. It consists of an anchor, eagle, trident, and pistol.

In this military version, the anchor represents the Navy branch of the US military, the eagle represents air warfare, the trident is water warfare, and the pistol represents land warfare.

If you have served in the Navy and battled on or in water, then a trident tattoo is a suitable tattoo idea for you. The same goes for being in any kind of battle, really. This trident tattoo also works well if you would like to honor a Navy man or woman.

What is the Spiritual Meaning of the Trident Tattoo?

At least one meaning of the trident tattoo does involve Christianity. However, you should be aware that this is not the most common interpretation of the trident or the trident tattoo.

Some people see the trident and trident tattoo as a symbol of the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

While this may not be the most obvious interpretation of the trident or the trident tattoo, I do have to admit that it would be a really cool and unique way to represent your faith.

The Top Trident Tattoo Designs

If you are looking for the best trident tattoo ideas and the meanings behind them, here is the collection that you should take a look at:

Simple Trident Tattoos

If you want to attach meanings of various origins to your trident tattoo, then a simple trident tattoo design will work best for you.

The minimalism of both the details and the design of the trident tattoo means that you can assign any and all symbolism to it. There are a lot of very nice looking tattoo designs for this kind of concept.

This type of trident tattoo works well if you would like small or medium sized trident tattoos. Here are the trident tattoo ideas that you should check out:

Poseidon and Neptune Inspired Trident Tattoos

If you love Greek mythology or Roman mythology, you will likely associate a trident tattoo with either Poseidon or Neptune. I would argue that most trident tattoos are based on these Gods.

Now, if these are the kind of trident tattoo ideas that inspire you, there are several trident tattoo designs that you can consider.

If you are looking for a more minimalistic trident tattoo, you can simply choose a trident tattoo that is based on the original mythic trident.

For something a bit more nautical, you can get maybe even waves around the trident tattoo. Or, have a hand grasping the trident reaching out of the water in your trident tattoo.

If you want something more complex for your trident tattoo, especially for your upper or lower arm, you can consider including one of the gods in your trident tattoo design as well.

I have to warn you that such scenes can be quite challenging to draw and create, particularly on skin. Due to this, I would suggest employing a tattoo artist who has experience tattooing tridents and such concepts. This will ensure that you end up with the best trident tattoo possible.

Also, choose an actual tattoo design to take to the artist so they have a better idea of the effect that you want to create with your own trident tattoo.

To determine which kind of trident tattoo concept appeals to you the most, here are the trident tattoo designs that you should check out:

Trishul Trident Tattoos

If you want a more spiritual trident tattoo, a trishul trident tattoo is the way to go. Just make sure that you know the exact design of the trishul before requesting your trident tattoo.

Keep in mind that there are a lot of details to follow with the trishul trident tattoo. So, check that you have an authentic trishul trident tattoo concept.

Religious texts or academic books are a good resource for your trishul trident tattoo.

Here are the trident tattoo designs that may inspire your own trident tattoo:

There you go - the many meanings behind the trident tattoo. Now that you're aware of what the trident tattoo can depict, the only thing left to do is to choose a suitable trident tattoo design.