A snake and rose tattoo represents temptation (remember Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden from the Bible) or a symbol of love and danger. According to the Bible, the serpent is subtle and wise.
Whereas tattoos (alongside body piercings) used to be seen as a sign of rebellion, times have changed, and these days, it’s far more common for a person (about 32% of Americans have a tattoo) to be seen sporting a tattoo than not.
Today, tattoos are less about rebellion and more about individuality. Or kind of being a badass.
What I really love about tattoos, however, is the fact that a tattoo can represent whatever I want it to represent.
For example. you can get a tattoo as a metaphorical middle finger to the system, you can get one to remember a loved one, you can get one to show a partner how much you love them, or you can simply get one because you think it looks cool.
Lately, tattoo artists have been noticing a trend where people are requesting snake and rose tattoos.
While the design is nothing new, it did seem a little dated a decade or two back.
As I said, though, times change, and the design is now back in style.
But what are some of the snake and rose tattoo meaning explanations?
Snake and Rose Tattoo – Meanings:
This Tattoo Is A Symbol of Temptation
One possible snake and rose tattoo meaning explanations is that the tattoo represents temptation.
Those familiar with the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden will know all about the snake/serpent and what it represented.
God told Adam and Eve that they could eat from any tree in the garden, other than the tree of life.
The devil (in the form of a snake) tries to trick Adam and Eve into eating the apple, or the forbidden fruit, as it is also known.
Eve succumbed to temptation and ate the apple, closely followed by Adam after he realized they had been tricked.
As punishment, Adam and Eve were banished (read Genesis 3:23) from the Garden of Eden and sent to the physical world.
They then began to age as they became mortal.
While the tattoo design features a rose instead of an apple, snakes are commonly seen as symbols of temptation.
One common idea behind a snake and rose tattoo meaning is that the tattoo represents the fact that somebody is romantically tempted by somebody they shouldn’t be tempted by.
It Represents Complexity
A tattoo can have many different meanings and can represent a whole bunch of different things.
Those who consider themselves to have complex personalities, for example, may find that a snake and rose tattoo meaning could represent this.
In Christianity, a rose is seen as a sign of purity and God’s love at work in people’s lives. Presently, in Western society, a rose is viewed as a romantic symbol and is associated with love, happiness, passion, and romance.
When you add a snake design into the mix, however, everything changes.
Now, the tattoo has a different meaning.
You might even say it is contradictory as you have a positive symbol in the form of the rose and a symbol often associated with negativity in the form of the slippery snake.
People who consider themselves to have complex personalities with multiple layers may, therefore, decide to go for a snake and rose tattoo design to represent the fact that they have different personalities and different passions in life.
It Represents A Love Of Nature 
Sometimes, when talking about tattoo meanings, you need to get a little more literal.
Sometimes, tattoo meanings are less about symbolism and more about what you can actually see with your own eyes.
However, the majority of people who choose to get a snake and rose tattoo don’t do so because they want it to have a deep and spiritual meaning but simply because they enjoy nature.
Snakes are pretty cool creatures, and people who love reptiles and slightly more unusual animals may choose to get tattoos of them.
The same goes for roses.
These flowers look beautiful and represent nature in all its glory.
By combining the two, one very literal snake and rose tattoo meaning is simply down to the fact that the tattoo represents a love of nature.
A Representation of Love and Danger
Another possible snake and rose tattoo meaning that we’re going to uncover right now, is that it could represent love and danger.
Roses, especially red roses, are symbols of love, romance, and happiness.
Contrast this to the menacing appearance of the snake, and what a snake often represents, and you can see why love and danger is such a common theme here.
Those with a snake and rose tattoo may get it because it symbolizes love and danger.
This could represent taking caution when it comes to romantic partners, or it could be a warning to other possible partners.
Therefore, if you have a snake and rose tattoo, it is a warning to possible romantic partners that they aren’t pushovers, that they have a feisty side, and that they can even be high maintenance.
This Tattoo Represents Uniqueness
Uniqueness is the quality or state of being one of a kind and a snake and rose tattoo is a great way of doing this.
Snakes and roses are about as far removed from one another as you can get.
They look different, they represent different things, they’re different colors, and they shouldn’t really have anything to do with one another in nature.
Both are unique in their ways.
People who want to express themselves in their unique way and show the world that they aren’t scared to be different might choose this pretty awesome tattoo design to do exactly that.
It Looks Cool
Finally, when discussing the many possible snake and rose tattoo meaning explanations, you have to consider the fact that the design looks so cool.
Providing you go with a good tattoo artist, a snake and rose tattoo is pretty badass.
It looks cool, it stands out, and it’s also something a bit different.
Put simply, people who like the design or the idea of combining a snake and a rose together in tattoo form may simply go with this design because they like it and think it looks cool.
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Anca is not just an author but a storyteller, translating her passion for tattoos into enlightening narratives about their symbolism and history. Through her work on Tattoo Worx, she strives to share her discoveries and knowledge, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for tattoo art among her readers.