Rune tattoo ideas

59 photos and flash · 22% Geometric, 14% Fine line · Forearm most common

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Black tattoo of two crossed axes inside a circle of runic-style script, on the inner forearm or wrist.
Crossed axes in a runic circle on a forearm
Black fine-line tattoo of a row of angular runic-style symbols on the inner ankle, with a dark sock and a pink blanket in the background.
Small runic inscription on the ankle
Upper arm and shoulder tattoo of a winged wolf head inside a diamond frame of runes, with knotwork above, in blackwork and dotwork style.
Wolf in runic frame on upper arm
Black and grey realistic tattoo of an angular rune-like symbol carved into cracked stone effect on skin, with reddened skin around it.
3D cracked-stone rune on skin
Red line drawing of a Vegvisir, an eight-armed Norse compass symbol, surrounded by a ring of runic characters on a white background.
Vegvisir compass within a runic ring
Bold black angular symbol tattoo on the upper back, surrounded by teal, purple, green and yellow watercolour-style splashes with black speckles trailing downward.
Black symbol with watercolour splashes on upper back
White rune-like symbols on a teal painted canvas, each labelled with a word such as Strength, Wisdom, Luck, Grace, Hope or Love.
Rune-style symbols with word labels
Black ink mountain design with a small figure on an upper arm, beside a rune-like symbol on the side of the ribs.
Mountain and rune tattoos on arm and side
Black line drawing of a Vegvisir compass design inside a circle of runes, shown on a plain white background with no body placement visible.
Vegvisir compass with runic ring
Neo-traditional flash design of a perforated triangular metal form overlapping gold and purple roses, green leaves and a red runic circle with blood drips.
Perforated pyramid with roses and runic circle
A chart of red Norse magical staves and runic symbols on a white background, each labelled with its name and intended meaning.
Norse magical staves and symbols chart
Close photo of a black rune-style tattoo on the inside of a wrist, with an open copy of City of Bones and its chapter 14 page beside it.
Black rune tattoo on a wrist beside an open book
Black tattoo of two crossed axes inside a ring of runic lettering, Lettering style, on the inner forearm.
Crossed axes and runes in a circle on a forearm
Line drawing of two ravens in green and blue ink, each with a column of runic characters across its body, shown as a tattoo design without placement.
Two ravens with runes
Black ink tattoo on the inner forearm showing two angular rune-like symbols followed by the numbers 390 in simple monoline lettering.
Runes and numerals on a forearm
Two matching black runic compass tattoos, one on each forearm, with a glass of beer on a wooden table behind them.
Matching runic compass tattoos on forearms
Black and white Norse sleeve design with runes, a Vegvisir and valknut symbols, shown beside a mock-up of the design on an upper arm.
Norse rune sleeve design with Vegvisir
Black and grey design of a wolf's head in profile inside a ring of runes, shown as a standalone drawing with no body placement.
Wolf within a runic circle
Black line drawings of eighteen angular rune-style symbols arranged in rows, each with a printed English label such as Love, Strength and Clairvoyant Sight.
Chart of labelled rune symbols
Grid chart of sixteen watercolour rune-style symbols, each with a printed English label such as Parabatai, Agility or Iratze, on a pale background.
Sixteen labelled watercolour rune designs
Fine line black tattoo of three runic symbols, including a small stick-like figure, on the inner forearm.
Three runic symbols on a forearm
Black and grey drawing of a Norse hammer design flanked by two beast heads, with interlaced knotwork, spirals and runes across the top.
Norse hammer with beast heads and knotwork
Black line flash sheet of labelled rune designs, including balance, celerity, strength, hearing, keen sight, eyesight, flying rune, healing rune, fearless, alliance and portal rune.
Rune tattoo flash sheet
Black line design of a triangle with a circle and vertical line, a trident above, a bird with an arrow on the left, flames on the right and a rune below.
Triangle, circle and bird design with trident and flames
Silver-grey radial symbol with runic-style arms on a black background, shown as a standalone design rather than on skin.
Grey radial symbol with runic arms
Black and grey full back tattoo of a dragon over a heart shield, framed by Celtic knotwork, runes and skulls, in a Realism style on the back.
Full back piece with dragon and Celtic knotwork
Flash sheet of twenty black, angular rune-style symbols arranged in a grid, each with a printed label such as Love, Courage or Strength.
Rune symbol flash sheet, twenty designs
Two black ink rune-style symbol tattoos on the inner forearms, shown side by side in warm sunlight.
Two rune-style symbols on forearms
Black line drawing of a circular tattoo design with runic-style symbols around a central knot, framed by a Celtic knotwork border, with no body placement shown.
Runic compass in a Celtic knot circle
Black ink compass design with rune-like marks on the outer forearm of a person standing with their back to the camera, wearing dark jeans.
Compass design on a forearm
A three by three grid of nine square watercolour tiles, each with a black rune-like symbol and a printed word such as Fearless, Strength, Heal or Insight beneath it.
Nine rune symbols on watercolour tiles
Realistic colour portrait tattoo of a man with dark swept-back hair and stubble on a forearm, with a small red rune-like symbol beside it.
Realistic portrait of a man on a forearm
Black blackwork tattoo of an eight-spoked runic compass symbol across the side of a ribcage, shown in a black and white photograph.
Vegvisir compass on the ribs
Black line drawing of a radial Vegvísir-style compass symbol with arrow-like branches and runic marks on a cream background, shown as a design with no body placement.
Vegvísir compass symbol design
Reference sheet of black ink rune symbols arranged in rows, each with a printed English label such as abundance, agility, clarity and good luck.
Labelled rune symbol reference sheet
Black and grey tattoo of a compass-style symbol inside a ring of runic characters, shaded to look like weathered stone, on the forearm.
Compass symbol inside a runic ring on a forearm
Black fine line tattoo on a forearm showing a large circle with a central compass wheel, surrounded by runic-style letters, plus a crescent moon and other small symbols.
Symbol wheel and occult marks on a forearm
Black fine line tattoo of a Norse-style compass with rune-like marks, an arrow and a small skull on a forearm.
Norse compass, arrow and skull on forearm
Black line drawing of a vegvisir-style compass design with arrow-tipped staves and symbols, enclosed by a ring of runic characters, on a white background.
Vegvisir compass with runic ring
Black and grey photo of two rows of fine line angular symbols tattooed on the hand and wrist, one above the other.
Two rows of angular glyphs on the hand
Black ink Vegvisir compass tattoo with eight spokes and runic-style glyphs on the inner forearm, shown in black and white.
Vegvisir compass on inner forearm
Colour tattoo on a back showing a triangle of a blue-tipped pen, a wand, a dagger and a green lightsaber around a grey stone with runic markings, in a realistic style.
Triangle of fantasy and sci-fi objects on a back
Black linework tattoo of a compass-style symbol inside a ring of runes, on the upper back near the shoulder.
Compass and runes on the shoulder
Black and grey Vegvisir compass tattoo surrounded by a runic ring and eight star points, centred on a person's upper back.
Vegvisir compass with runic ring on upper back
A flash-style chart of black line symbols with small handwritten labels, resembling runic designs, with no tattoo on skin shown.
Chart of runic-style symbols and labels
Black Vegvisir compass tattoo with runic-style arms and fine teal swirls across the upper back.
Vegvisir compass on upper back
Black and white chart of stylised rune symbols, each paired with a handwritten label such as Agility, Heal, Love and Strength.
Chart of labelled rune designs
Black ink tattoo of a runic inscription set within a horizontal band on the upper back, just below the neckline of a dark top.
Runic inscription across upper back