97 Owl Tattoos for Men

The owl tattoo idea is representative of wisdom and knowledge. In Greek mythology the owl was linked to Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and strategy.

An owl sat on Athena’s blind side to protect the goddess so that she could always see the truth. Owls were also mentioned in the Christian Bible as symbols of intelligence, and were a popular symbol in Ancient Egypt.

In Native American culture owls are linked with death and can be considered an bad omen of oncoming loss of life, while in the East they are considered good, protective Feng Shui.

Owls are popular in the world of ink as animal tattoos linked to wisdom and intelligence. They often carry a strong symbolic meaning reflecting the acquisition of knowledge or skills.

When an owl or owl feather is incorporated into a skull tattoo by the tattoo artist it then becomes symbolic of death.

In some cultures, the flying owl, which is a highly skilled nocturnal predator, helps escort the departed soul to the gateway of the beyond.

Some of the mannerisms that make owls a popular motif for a tattoo enthusiast includes :

• There are different types of owls that make interesting contrasts in tattoo ideas such as the barn owl, snowy owl, or even the great horned owl
• You can certainly hear the hoot of an owl at night even a mile away, yet in the darkness only they can truly see you due to the precocious eye
• With the ability to turn their heads up to 270 degrees, a snowy owl can quite literally see in almost every direction without moving their body an inch
• When stalking prey their soft feathers and fringes muffle sound to near silence
• With the ability to see in the darkness, a black and gray or colorful bird represents the idea of seeing beyond illusion, masks and deception
• The owl can showcase the power of seeing someone’s true state of mind while uncovering all the dark, hidden secrets