33 Striking Aztec Tattoo Ideas for Men & Women in 2024

Here we have a lovely black and gray Aztec half-sleeve tattoo. I love the mix of the calendar and dragon, it almost appears to be protecting the calendar. The smoke done in negative spacing is a great addition to this piece, especially with the drop shadow over the leaves. It adds a three-dimensional feel, giving this piece that extra pop.

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Welcome to another list of tattoos to inspire you in 2024. Today’s focus is on Aztec tattoos and do we have some amazing pieces in store. First up is this awesome colorful god of rain piece.
Obviously, the thing that stands out the most here is how vivid the colors are; they’re packed solidly and are without any inconsistencies. Another thing worth the mention is the clean linework, the starting point for any good piece.

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There’s so much depth to this tattoo, all created by the well-placed drop shadows. The shading is smooth and the details in the necklace and lion’s fur are exceptional. I also really like that this piece blends into the client’s original tattoos, bringing them smoothly together. Great work!

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Okay, this sleeve is absolutely awesome. The composition is amazing and flows with the shape of the client’s arm so nicely. What’s really cool is the addition of red; it complements the black and gray shading and creates a focal point your eyes are immediately drawn to.

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I love everything about this black and gray Aztec snake tattoo; it looks like it was carved from stone and the artist did an incredible job at creating that illusion. Adding the white highlights is a good choice; it helps make this piece stand out, especially in the eyes. The thin linework is also the perfect choice for this tattoo as it blends well with the smooth shading. How amazing are the tiny details? So impressive!

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Aztec calendars are a popular subject often added to this style of tattoo. The intricate details are awesome and the shading adds a three-dimensional touch to a tattoo that could have possibly been very flat. I like how the calendar fits between the original designs, and ties them together in a very natural way.

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Is she not the most beautiful Aztec queen you’ve ever seen? Her gaze says everything, don’t mess with her because she is powerful. I like the fade on the edges of the tattoo. It brings your attention to the face, because it’s darker than the rest of the tattoo.

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I really like the mix of styles in this tattoo. There’s a hint of Old School and Neo- Traditional, which when brought together, create an amazing tattoo with so much character. A tattoo with clean linework and silky shading is always a winner in my book. Any artist can tattoo but not all of them can pull a solid clean line, so kudos to Dom Wiley for his incredible artistry. I also love the placement on the calf; this design suits it so well.

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What’s awesome about this tattoo is the fact that there are no solid outlines; that’s because of the style it’s inked in. There’s a touch of black and gray but most of this tattoo is blackwork. How? Well, you can tell by how contrasted the shading is. The composition of this piece is also super unique. I love that the artist drew the snake curled up in a striking position and not the usual wrapped-around-the-leg positioning.

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Aztec and geometry morphed into one tattoo? Yes, please. Okay, it’s not your traditional geometric tattoo but there are definitely hints. I like the rough textured shading; it gives this piece a more rustic feel. Another thing worth the mention is how the artist left the face barely shaded because the rest of the tattoo is rather dark. The lightness of the face immediately draws your eyes to it, creating a focal point.

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Every culture or civilization has its own version of the ruler of the underworld. Most people get Hades or Lucifer, but this Aztec lord of the underworld is probably the coolest and creepiest thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Many of the tattoos on this list are done in a stone-like style because the statues and monuments are the only references we have left of this ancient civilization. This piece ties together with the previous one to create a full sleeve, and what a glorious sleeve it is.

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The architecture of the Aztecs is quite impressive, especially because of how advanced they were for their time. This realistic tattoo of the Aztec monuments and architecture embodies the true nature of how massively impressive this civilization was. I adore the placement on the forearm; the shape of the design is a perfect fit. What an amazing piece!

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Throat tattoos are bold and make for a perfect statement piece. This Aztec piece looks amazing on the neck; I like how it goes all the way up to his chin, although, I wonder what it looks like when you’re looking at him head-on. Either way, this tattoo is super badass and definitely complements his neck.

IG: zero.trez

This tattoo is so realistic it looks like you could almost reach out and stroke the jaguar. The part that I like the most is how the stone carving above the wild cat looks like a crown. A noteworthy mention is the attention to detail, from the jaguar to the stone carvings, everything about this tattoo is top-class, and if I could give the artist a reward I would.

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The Aztecs regarded jaguars as the bravest of the beasts, which is why they are prevalent in many of these designs. Jaguars were a favorite representation of war and here we can see one adorning this queen’s head like a crown. I like this tattoo a lot, although there’s one thing that’s bothering me, her eyes. For some reason, they appear too close together, but that may be due to the angle of the picture. Other than that, this piece is stunning and truly embraces the beauty of an Aztec queen.

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Okay, this tattoo is insanely impressive, not only is it beautifully detailed but it’s also massive! I can’t begin to imagine how long it took to finish, but that’s beside the point. The way the artist uses the serpent as a frame for the calendar is absolutely gorgeous, but the best part is how realistic this entire tattoo is. This is definitely a show-stopper; imagine seeing this guy taking his shirt off at the beach. I would definitely go up to him and ask him where he had it done.

IG: tatuajesdereyes

It’s really cool how the artist creates this tattoo; the style is unusual, maybe even illustrative. There’s also a blend of shading techniques used to give this design various textures. I love the white highlight in the eyes; it adds a mystical feel to this awesome tattoo. Credit to the artist for such a cool piece.

IG: aztekstyles

Tonatiuh, the sun god and the center of the Aztec calendar, was thought to be the god of the fifth sun or “world”. Zero3 is the artist behind this outstanding tattoo and he specializes in these designs. You should go and give his Instagram some love; there’s a lot more where this came from.

IG: zero.trez

This tattoo reminds me of an Old School piece. What I like the most is how angled it is; instead of creating a flowy dragon the artist keeps with the style of the Aztec sculptures and monuments. I like how it wraps around the arm and works its way up along its entire length. Great shading and even better linework.

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