Are you praying to the Gods as you desperately search for the perfect Tattoo Design? Well, worry not. Your prayers have been answered as we’re about to deliver a list of Roman Mythology Tattoos larger than the Roman Empire itself.
What Is Roman Mythology
Roman mythology is the collection of traditional stories, beliefs, and legends about the gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures of Ancient Rome. These stories and beliefs played a massive role in Roman religion, culture, and identity as they blended native Roman beliefs with Greek mythology and influences from other neighbouring cultures.
Many Roman gods were directly adapted from Greek mythology with new names and sometimes slightly different personalities or values. Roman mythology often emphasized duty, honour, and civic virtue. Their gods were seen as protectors of the state, and the myths often reinforced the greatness of Rome.
These stories weren’t just for entertainment. Instead, they explained natural phenomena, cultural traditions, moral lessons, and Rome’s origins.
Best Roman Mythology Tattoos
Now that we know a little about Roman Mythology, let’s take a look at some of the very best Roman Mythology Tattoo Designs from across the internet.
Apollo Roman Mythology Tattoo
Apollo is one of the few gods whose name did not change when he was adopted into the Roman mythos.
Apollo was seen as young, athletic, handsome, and radiant, representing reason and harmony, and was often viewed as the golden standard of divine excellence.
He was also deeply connected to art and intellect, inspiring poets, musicians, and seers alike.
Juno Roman Mythology Tattoo
Juno is the queen of the Roman gods. She rules alongside Jupiter, the king of the gods, and is known for her fierce personality, strong sense of duty, and unshakable presence.
A regal, proud, and protective goddess, she doesn’t tolerate betrayal, especially when it comes to love and loyalty. In many myths, she’s shown as a strong-willed goddess who’s not afraid to stand up to anyone, including her husband, Jupiter.
Faun Roman Mythology Tattoo
Fauns are mythical forest spirits from Roman mythology, known for being part-human, part-goat creatures that love music, dancing, and all things wild and free.
Closely related to the Greek satyrs, fauns differ from their Greek counterparts, being less chaotic and often more gentle or mystical.
Minerva Roman Mythology Tattoo
Minerva, the Roman equivalent to Athena, is the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, strategic warfare, art & craftsmanship, justice and law, and inspiration and Innovation.
Although Minerva is a respected and not feared goddess, she is responsible for transforming the mortal Arachne into a spider after she bested her in a sewing competition. Hence the word arachnid.
Nemesis Roman Mythology Tattoo
Nemesis is the goddess of retribution, balance, and righteous vengeance. While she’s more prominent in Greek mythology, the Romans also honoured her, especially as a reminder that no one escapes justice, not even the gods.
Her Roman name is also Nemesis, but depending on the aspect being emphasized, she’s sometimes referred to as Invidia (envy).
Pluto Roman Mythology Tattoo
Pluto is the Roman god of the Underworld, ruler of the dead and the hidden riches of the Earth. His name comes from the Greek Plouton, which means “wealth-giver,” alluding to all the precious metals and gems buried underground.
The Roman equivalent of the Greek god Hades, Pluto is more relaxed and structured, with a greater emphasis on riches, law, and order.
She-Wolf Roman Mythology Tattoo
The She-wolf, or Lupa, is the mythical wolf who nursed and protected Romulus and Remus, the legendary twin founders of Rome. Her image is immortalized in art, statues, coins, modern sports logos and city emblems.
She is the symbol of Rome’s raw strength, resilience, and wild beginnings.
Hercules Roman Mythology Tattoo
The legendary strongman of Roman mythology, Hercules, often mistaken for his Greek counterpart Heracles, was a divine hero, a symbol of endurance, and eventually became a god himself.
Hercules shares an almost identical journey to Heracles but with a Roman twist on the tale.
The confusion between Hercules and Heracles may be due to popular media, such as Disney’s Hercules or Santa Monica’s God of War video game series, which use the Roman name ‘Hercules’ even though the stories are based on Greek mythology.
Justitia Roman Mythology Tattoo
Justitia is the Roman goddess of Justice, fairness, and moral integrity. She personifies the idea that justice should be impartial, balanced, and based on truth, a concept that’s still visually and symbolically central to modern legal systems.
She’s the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Themis, but over time, Justitia developed a distinct image and role that became iconic in Roman art and, later, modern law.
Basilisk Roman Mythology Tattoo
The Basilisk is a mythical serpent-like creature from Roman and medieval legend, often referred to as the “King of Serpents.” Its name comes from the Greek word basiliskos, meaning “little king.”
Despite its small size in early versions, this monster was said to possess unimaginable power, especially its lethal gaze, as anyone who locked eyes with a basilisk died instantly.
Centaur Roman Mythology Tattoo
The Centaur is a mythical creature with a human’s upper body and a horse’s lower body. Originally from Greek mythology, the Romans embraced them in their art and storytelling, especially as symbolic figures of passion, wilderness, and duality.
Hermaphroditus Roman Mythology Tattoo
Hermaphroditus is a minor deity in Roman and Greek mythology, known for being both male and female in one form. The name combines Hermes (his father) and Aphrodite (his mother).
The Romans adopted Hermaphroditus directly from Greek mythology, where the character played a unique and symbolic role as a symbol of unity between the sexes.
The term “hermaphrodite” (an organism having both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics) directly comes from the name Hermaphroditus.
Diana Roman Mythology Tattoo
The Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Artemis, Diana is the goddess of the hunt, wild animals, nature, the Moon, childbirth and protector of women, chastity and independence.
Diana was worshipped throughout the Roman world, especially by hunters, women, and the lower classes. One of her most famous temples was at Lake Nemi, where she was honoured as Diana Nemorensis, “Diana of the Wood.”
Jupiter Roman Mythology Tattoo
God of the sky and thunder, the protector of Rome, and the supreme ruler of both gods and mortals, Jupiter was Zeus’ Roman equivalent, but with more emphasis on law, authority, and state power.
Like Zeus, he overthrew his father and freed his brothers and sisters, establishing a new divine order. He also had many romantic escapades, leading to the birth of several demigods and heroes, including Hercules.
Neptune Roman Mythology Tattoo
The Roman counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon, Neptune, is powerful, temperamental, and majestic, particularly when riding the waves in his sea chariot pulled by hippocamps.
Before he was fully associated with the sea, Neptune was originally a god of fresh water and horses in the early Roman religion and was even honoured during horse races.
Hippocamp Roman Mythology Tattoo
Hippocamps (also called hippocampi or hippocampi in plural) are mythical sea creatures with the front half of a horse and the tail of a fish.
The name originated from the Greek “hippos” (horse) + “kampos” (sea monster).
They’re often seen as the noble steeds of sea gods, especially Neptune (Roman) or Poseidon (Greek).
Ceres Roman Mythology Tattoo
Ceres is the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, and the cycle of life. She is part of the older generation of Roman gods and is deeply tied to the earth, survival, and the sacred duty of growing food.
Like her Greek counterpart, Demeter, her daughter is kidnapped by the god of the underworld. Due to her grief, nothing would grow until a deal was struck between Jupiter and the abductor, Pluto.
Her daughter, Proserpina, spends part of the year with Pluto (autumn and winter) and part of the year with Ceres (spring and summer), which explains the changing seasons in Roman mythology.
Vesta Roman Mythology Tattoo
The Roman goddess of home, fire, and eternal flame, Vesta, is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Hestia, though the Romans gave her even more importance, especially in public religious life.
The temple of Vesta was located in the Roman Forum. It housed the sacred flame of Rome, which was never allowed to go out, as the flame symbolized the life of the empire itself.
Inside, no statues of Vesta were found. She was represented by presence, not image.
Mars Roman Mythology Tattoo
Unlike his Greek counterpart, Ares, who was as chaotic and bloodthirsty, Mars was respected, noble, and essential to Roman identity.
Mars wasn’t solely about fighting. He represented the ideal Roman soldier: disciplined, brave, and honourable.
Romans saw him as the father of their civilization, literally and symbolically. The Latin phrase “pater Mars” (“Father Mars”) shows how deeply they revered him.
Cerberus Roman Mythology Tattoo
Cerberus is the three-headed dog who guards the gates of the Underworld, preventing the living from entering and the dead from escaping.
Originating in Greek mythology, where he was known as Kerberos, this fearsome guardian was captured by each culture’s hero—Heracles in Greek myth and Hercules in Roman myth—as the final labor of their epic quests.
Mercury Roman Mythology Tattoo
Mercury is the Roman god of messages, movement, and mischief. He’s the Roman version of the Greek god Hermes, and like Hermes, Mercury is clever, quick, and always up to something.
Venus Roman Mythology Tattoo
Venus is the Roman goddess of love and romance, beauty and seduction, fertility and sensuality, passion and desire, and victory and prosperity.
Venus competed in a competition with Juno and Minerva for the title of “fairest.” Paris, the Trojan prince, chooses Venus, having been bribed by Venus with the promise of the most beautiful woman.
In return, Venus helps him steal Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, which ultimately leads to the famous Trojan War.
Flora Roman Mythology Tattoo
Flora is the Roman goddess of flowers, spring, fertility, and growth. She embodies the gentle side of nature, especially in early spring when the world awakens from winter and everything begins to bloom again.
Flora doesn’t have a direct Greek counterpart, making her a uniquely Roman deity in her personality and cultural role.
Saturn Roman Mythology Tattoo
Saturn is the Roman equivalent of Cronus. Both are the fathers of the gods in their respective mythologies and were overthrown by their children.
Like Cronus, Saturn tried to prevent a prophecy of being overthrown by devouring his children. However, he was deceived, and his son Jupiter eventually grew up to overthrow him and rescue his siblings.
Saturn is possibly most famous for his depiction in Francisco Goya’s painting “Saturno devorando a su hijo” (Saturn devouring his son).
Janus Roman Mythology Tattoo
A two-faced deity, Janus is the Roman god of beginnings, endings, and everything in between.
With no Greek counterpart, he is uniquely Roman. His faces look both into the future and the past, symbolizing his wisdom over time, his control over transitions, and his role as a guardian of all thresholds.
He was invoked at the start of every prayer, regardless of which god the prayer was for, because all things begin with Janus.
Abundantia Roman Mythology Tattoo
Abundantia is the Roman goddess of wealth, prosperity, and plenty. She symbolizes overflowing blessings and is often depicted showering the world with riches, grain, and goodness.
Neither flashy nor dramatic, she represents quiet, constant generosity and the comforting feeling of having enough.
Bellona Roman Mythology Tattoo
Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, fury, and battlefield power. She’s often considered a companion or sister to Mars, the god of war. However, she’s her own divine force, and in some traditions, she’s even older or more ancient than Mars himself.
Where Mars represents controlled military power, Bellona represents the rush of combat, the clang of swords, and the roar of warriors going to war.
Asclepius Roman Mythology Tattoo
Asclepius is the god of medicine, healing, and miraculous cures. While one of the Greek Gods, he was so important that the Romans adopted him into their pantheon as Aesculapius, honoring him with temples and shrines, especially during plagues or health crises.
Cupid Roman Mythology Tattoo
Cupid is the Roman god of love, desire, and adorable chaos. While he is the Roman version of the Greek god Eros, Cupid evolved into his own figure in Roman mythology, becoming younger, cuter, and cheekier.
Aurora Roman Mythology Tattoo
Aurora is the Roman goddess of sunrise, new beginnings, and the gentle glow of morning. She’s the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Eos and represents the first blush of morning.
Epona Roman Mythology Tattoo
Epona is the goddess of horses, protection, and fertility in Roman and Celtic mythology. She originated from Celtic (Gaulish) tradition, but became so beloved by the Roman Empire that she was fully adopted into Roman religion.
Her name comes from the Gaulish word epos, meaning “horse”, so her name literally means “Horse Goddess.”
Where To Get Your Roman Mythology Tattoo
Design is one thing, but you always need to consider where to get your Roman Mythology Tattoo. So let’s take a look at some of the best locations to get your potential new ink.
Arm Roman Mythology Tattoo
The arm is a great location if you’re aiming for visibility, but also easy to cover if needed. It’s a classic spot for first-timers and serious collectors and is less painful than more sensitive areas, with lots of room for medium to large designs.
Roman Mythology Tattoo On The Forearm
The forearm is very visible, making it a terrific location if you want to show it off. It is painless to moderate on the tattoo pain scale and works well for both standalone pieces or part of a sleeve.
Thigh With Roman Mythology Tattoo
The thigh has tons of space for large, intricate designs that you can keep private and is easy to cover when you want. It has a lower pain level, especially on the outer thigh, and can be great for storytelling pieces, mandalas, or mythical creatures.
Roman Mythology Chest Tattoo
Chest tattoos are intimate and powerful as they sit close to the heart, making them perfect for meaningful symbols, names, or tributes. These tattoos work well with symmetry (both sides of the chest) and are easy to incorporate into larger torso pieces.
Roman Mythology Back Tattoo
The back is the ultimate blank canvas thanks to its large and smooth surface. It is perfect for full scenes, epic creatures, or highly detailed work that can be shown or hidden with ease. The back is less painful in the upper portions, but more sensitive along the spine and lower half.
Conclusion
As we reach the end of our epic quest, we hope you have been bestowed the knowledge you sought for your perfect Tattoo Design. However, if you’re still not inspired, take inspiration from Janus, as endings are new beginnings, and check out these Egyptian Mythology Tattoo Designs, these Viking Tattoo Designs or check out even more Mythological Tattoos.
