Thread: cast tattoos
Planet Tolkien is archived and no longer updated, but the forums remain browseable. We have established a Telegram group for old and new visitors to stay connected and discuss all things Tolkien.I have heard that the many members of the cast went and got LOTR tattoos. I found a pic of Sean Bean shirtless. There is clearly a tattoo on his left shoulder, but I can't make it out. Does anyone here know anything about this? I am curious to know what exactly they got tattooed. Perhaps their character names, or some kind of private joke.
Hi Eldarwen! Welcome! The tattoo is the elvish symbol for nine.
Thank you Eruwen. That helps a great deal, but now, of course, I must find that symbol.
Yes, and Peter Jackson got a tattoo of the elven symbol for "ten". I think it was a great bonding thing for them to do. Only John Rhys Davies chickened out - his stunt double got the Fellowship tattoo instead. Otherwise, the rest of the nine have the mark. Sean A's is on his ankle, Dom's is on his shoulder, Elijah's is on the front of his hip (where a jeans pocket is), Orlando's is on his forearm (you can see it on Pirates Of The Caribbean several times), Billy's is on his foot, the stunt double is on his shoulder - I didn't know where Bean's, Viggo's, or Ian's tattoos were, so that answers one more 
What do you mean John Rys Davies chickened out? Some people just don't like having tattoos. (Like me, I just don't want any kind of permanent mark put on me.) Even if you have it removed it's expensive and leaves a scar. What if you have to go into hiding from the CIA? They can identify you by the tattoo. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind people with tattoos (I listen to David Allan Coe, who's body is almost covered with tattoos.) Some people just think they're pointless. (Some people have religious reasons not to get a tattoo, but we won't go into that.)
I have a tatto, the thing with them is think about what ur getting, I mean you may be 17 and into death metal now, but in 10 yrs time you might regret that skull with the snake coming out the eye sockets. I went for a celtic Knot with roses, and I put in a place where I can cover it(Right Bi-cep), some people i know don't even know i have it, and i quite often forget about it myself. Eight yrs latter and I'm still happy with it and can't see me panicing and getting it lazered off any time soon.
I myself have two tattoos:One of my daughter's first and middle names, in ten-inch-high red Old English script across my back between my shoulder blades(someday soon I will have to add my two sons' names!), and another of a falcon(bird) with a circular snake on its head(the ancient Egyptian symbol for the god Horace) on my left ankle.
I actually wanted to get a tattoo of Gandalf's runic symbol in some semi-inconspicuous spot someday...either that, or a token of my eternal servitude to Viggo Mortensen-his face on my buttocks! Somehow I don't think he'd like that very much, though...God help him!
I actually wanted to get a tattoo of Gandalf's runic symbol in some semi-inconspicuous spot someday...either that, or a token of my eternal servitude to Viggo Mortensen-his face on my buttocks! Somehow I don't think he'd like that very much, though...God help him!
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I mean you may be 17 and into death metal now, but in 10 yrs time you might regret that skull with the snake coming out the eye sockets.
I mean you may be 17 and into death metal now, but in 10 yrs time you might regret that skull with the snake coming out the eye sockets.
I woke up one morning to find a hidious butterfly tattooed on my right leg.... I must have been really drunk when I put it there, but I'm pleased it's on my leg and not my neck. For some reason I've got about twenty home-made ones on my legs (mainly dragons, angels, skulls and swords etc) which I did myself when I was young and stupid. The reason they are on my legs, by the way, wasn't so much to keep them hidden, as it's difficult to tattoo your own shoulders etc. I keep contemplating getting some tribal symbols done professionally on my arms and back, but something keeps stopping me.
As has been mentioned above, I'd recommend anyone thinking about having one done, making sure it is somewhere they can cover it up. I know a few people who have had them on their hands and faces, and most of them really regret it later.
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Only John Rhys Davies chickened out - his stunt double got the Fellowship tattoo instead.
Hahahaaa! That is brilliant! 'No, I don't want to do that, let the stuntman do it.' Only John Rhys Davies chickened out - his stunt double got the Fellowship tattoo instead.
I've seen Rhodrys tattoo. I've got pictures.
Val, the human sketch-book. You never stop to amaze me.
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Viggo Mortensen-his face on my buttocks! Somehow I don't think he'd like that very much, though...God help him!
Well, at least you will grow old and wrinkly together... Viggo Mortensen-his face on my buttocks! Somehow I don't think he'd like that very much, though...God help him!
I only have a small tattoo on my lower back that's the Chinese symbol for soul, and even though it's small, it hurt like the Dickens!!! I'll never, ever do it again. My best friend on the other hand has two, large half-sleeve tattoos on her arms, which are absolutely beautiful...I really could never do it though. (Hey, she's in Phoenix, Laurel...I think you two would really get along.)
Yes, there are religious reasons not to get tattoos, or so my mother told me over and over again growing up while she pointed out the Bible verse to me. I tended to point out everything else that it said in that same chapter and asked why she allows me to braid my hair and not sacrifice animals then. But, it didn’t seem to work. Ah well.
Oh, and yes, really, really think about it...I have a friend who has a tattoo on his arm that he got when he was 16, and it says, "Born to Be Wild." Believe you, me...we can't give him enough of a hard time about it. Hahahahahahaha!
Laurel ’ I like the idea of Gandalf’s runic symbol. That would be nice. Viggo on the other hand’well, I guess you could say he would always be smiling...hee hee.
Yes, there are religious reasons not to get tattoos, or so my mother told me over and over again growing up while she pointed out the Bible verse to me. I tended to point out everything else that it said in that same chapter and asked why she allows me to braid my hair and not sacrifice animals then. But, it didn’t seem to work. Ah well.
Oh, and yes, really, really think about it...I have a friend who has a tattoo on his arm that he got when he was 16, and it says, "Born to Be Wild." Believe you, me...we can't give him enough of a hard time about it. Hahahahahahaha!
Laurel ’ I like the idea of Gandalf’s runic symbol. That would be nice. Viggo on the other hand’well, I guess you could say he would always be smiling...hee hee.
Sean's from Sheffield - the tattoo on his left shoulder says '100% blades' - blades being the local football team. i think the elvish tattoo is on his right shoulder
Well, let me see: we could have a red S on our foreheads and a skull on one wrist and a row of numbers on the other. No on second thought I have decided to give tattoos a pass. Had my daughter asked me before she had a beautiful large butterfly pointillismed on the small of her back, I'd have said no way, but as she was older than 21, she didn't feel asking me was necessary. The main thing to remember is no names other than "Mother", else your future spouse may decide not to be. 
Hi have 6 tattoos - my avitar is the tattoo I have on my shoulder (hubby took a photo of it). I have just had a fairy on my ankle and a flower braclet on my wrist. I agree you must think carefully as you will have them for the rest of your life - I love my tattoos and am thinking of getting somthing Elvish.
Any suggestion I could contemplate - serious ones please as I have had the usual suggestions skull & crossbones, anchor, cut here - - - etc...etc... I would love to have my hubby's name (David) in Elvish but don't know how where to get the spelling.
Think before you tat !!!
Any suggestion I could contemplate - serious ones please as I have had the usual suggestions skull & crossbones, anchor, cut here - - - etc...etc... I would love to have my hubby's name (David) in Elvish but don't know how where to get the spelling.
Think before you tat !!!
One of my tattoos is picturing Turambar in despair after killing Beleg,
under that i have the ring inscription,
all together takes about 20x20cm of my back.
Next one I will do this summer across my forearm,
2 words, also Silmarillion based ;-)))
Marian
under that i have the ring inscription,
all together takes about 20x20cm of my back.
Next one I will do this summer across my forearm,
2 words, also Silmarillion based ;-)))
Marian
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I went for a celtic Knot with roses, and I put in a place where I can cover it(Right Bi-cep)
I went for a celtic Knot with roses, and I put in a place where I can cover it(Right Bi-cep)
I love your tattoo, Rho.
I'm hoping to get a tattoo in a couple of years (when I can better hide it from my parents and family... hehe). I'm not sure on a pattern; maybe an elvish symbol (which I'll be asking PTers for ideas), a dragon or the symbol for "devine female"... who knows, maybe all those things...
I love tattoos...I currently have two. Both of which I know I'll love forever. The first one I got when I was 18, it's a treble clef, on my right shoulder...which is very easy for you to cover. And the second is a symbol from FOTR which I got when I was 19. it's a small celtic-looking butterfly...i'm sure as soon as i can find a way to show everyone i will....but i don't have it saved on this computer.
Make sure whatever you get is something that you'll like when you're older. The treble clef i got because I have and always will love music, and the butterfly i got because i love LOTR, and i have always been fascinated by butterflies. They are both just black outlines...and neither of them required a lot of work...or money, but they are both elegent and "classy."
Make sure whatever you get is something that you'll like when you're older. The treble clef i got because I have and always will love music, and the butterfly i got because i love LOTR, and i have always been fascinated by butterflies. They are both just black outlines...and neither of them required a lot of work...or money, but they are both elegent and "classy."
I've resolved to learn a bit of Quenya this summer. I downloaded the lessons and wow1 They are DAUNTING! There's like 200+KBs of stuff on pronounciation alone! But I also downloaded the Tengwar, and I'm trying to figure out how to spell things out with the letters.
Maydmarion, you could totally spell out anything you like in Tengwar and get them to tattoo it on you! I would defintely want the name of someone close to me tattooed across the back of my right shoulder in Tengwar, but for now I'll wait until someone that special really comes by.
Maydmarion, you could totally spell out anything you like in Tengwar and get them to tattoo it on you! I would defintely want the name of someone close to me tattooed across the back of my right shoulder in Tengwar, but for now I'll wait until someone that special really comes by.
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I would defintely want the name of someone close to me tattooed across the back of my right shoulder in Tengwar, but for now I'll wait until someone that special really comes by.
I would defintely want the name of someone close to me tattooed across the back of my right shoulder in Tengwar, but for now I'll wait until someone that special really comes by.
Beware! For whilst love is fleeting, a tattoo is not.
Warning taken. But the search for the other half continues nonetheless.
I hope his name has a D in d, a trilling r, and an l in it. Those letters look especially beautiful.
I hope his name has a D in d, a trilling r, and an l in it. Those letters look especially beautiful.
So your not picky about what the person is like, only what's in the name... You're starting to sound like Gwendolen Fairfax of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of being Ernest... 
Cloveress and Darryl are sitting in a tree...
Gwendolen?
Nah, I think I'm probably more like Cecily... Algie's always been more to my liking...
And Earnest is, imho, not such an expection name after all.
And Darryl! Yes! Why didn't I think of that??
Nah, I think I'm probably more like Cecily... Algie's always been more to my liking...
And Earnest is, imho, not such an expection name after all.
And Darryl! Yes! Why didn't I think of that??
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if Tolkien ever wrote a character that had tatoos? Somehow I think of Elves and Hobbits as not having such things, but I wouldn't put it past some of the Men.
Did Saruman brand his Uruk-hai with the White Hand or anything?
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Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if Tolkien ever wrote a character that had tatoos? Somehow I think of Elves and Hobbits as not having such things, but I wouldn't put it past some of the Men.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if Tolkien ever wrote a character that had tatoos? Somehow I think of Elves and Hobbits as not having such things, but I wouldn't put it past some of the Men.
I can only think of one example of bodily decoration: Thr’r, at the hands of Azog.
And expanding on this, perhaps several of the Ents in the Elder Days had similar forms of bodily decoration, mostly at the hands of enamored Elven couples; trivial nonsense like "Galadriel & Celeborn Forever!!", "Die Morgoth Die!!!", so on and such like.
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Did Saruman brand his Uruk-hai with the White Hand or anything?
I think they were just painted on their helmets and shields, but I couldn't find anything on the pages during Merry and Pippin's captivity. I couldn't spend time checking Helm's Deep and the like. Sorry.Did Saruman brand his Uruk-hai with the White Hand or anything?
I had always thought so too, but I wouldn't put it past the old wizard to carve his (horribly ugly)design onto his slaves...
Everytime I think of you little Cloveress I see you driving your car, somehow it looks like Nancy Drews.
I would be shocked if JRR ever gave any of the heroes or heroines a tatto because of his deep Catholic beliefs. There is something somewhere in the Scriptures about not putting a tatoo on yourself. Something like that. And he was very particular about things like that. In one of his letters, I think to Michael, he complained about ladies wearing trousers instead of dresses into the church.
I wonder though that he did not give the Orcs or whatnot tatoos all over the place instead of just yuckky handpainted things on h elmuts.
I would be shocked if JRR ever gave any of the heroes or heroines a tatto because of his deep Catholic beliefs. There is something somewhere in the Scriptures about not putting a tatoo on yourself. Something like that. And he was very particular about things like that. In one of his letters, I think to Michael, he complained about ladies wearing trousers instead of dresses into the church.
I wonder though that he did not give the Orcs or whatnot tatoos all over the place instead of just yuckky handpainted things on h elmuts.
There are a number of verses which can be applied to do with tattoos, the most prominent one is Leviticus 19:28... "And YOU must not make cuts in YOUR flesh for a deceased soul, and YOU must not put tattoo marking upon yourselves."
But, it's a choice for everyone, and I suppose that the Professor made his choice also when considering markings for his creation (if he ever did consider it
), elves lived for thousands of years and would be more of an enormous choice for them, as they would spend eternity in physical being having the same markings on themselves... Men might have considered it, as their lifespan isn't as long like today's mankind... Plus, for elves of grace and beauty, such markings might lessen the grace and purity... Hobbits on the other hand, are too busy thinking of food and smoking to even think of getting a tattoo
But, it's a choice for everyone, and I suppose that the Professor made his choice also when considering markings for his creation (if he ever did consider it
), elves lived for thousands of years and would be more of an enormous choice for them, as they would spend eternity in physical being having the same markings on themselves... Men might have considered it, as their lifespan isn't as long like today's mankind... Plus, for elves of grace and beauty, such markings might lessen the grace and purity... Hobbits on the other hand, are too busy thinking of food and smoking to even think of getting a tattoo All those "YOU MUST NOT"s are more an incentive to do something than anything else. Some people apparently never heard of reverse psychology.
But do you really expect them to write in their 'guidebook', the complete opposite of what God wanted them to write? It's just the same with putting up a television bracket or something, using the instruction provided... "YOU MUST have bracket A inserted into holding joint B"... I'm not sure adding reverse psychology would make the bracket stay up on the wall for very long
But still, choices are made each day by everyone, this is just another choice, and I'm glad that the Professor decided not to use permanent markings on each of his races, whether religious or not... It keeps the balance of whats beautiful in his mind and what is not... Like Elves and Yrchs
But still, choices are made each day by everyone, this is just another choice, and I'm glad that the Professor decided not to use permanent markings on each of his races, whether religious or not... It keeps the balance of whats beautiful in his mind and what is not... Like Elves and Yrchs
No, I rather expected them to write what they wanted to write...
Well, I'll leave it then if your going to carry on speaking about religion... I'd prefer if you would reply to what my main point was... Choices etc, the races and markings...
Which reminds me, a friend of mine gave me a card-printout of the Lord of the Rings On Stage promotion, I would have loved to see it in London, but as I was going to buy tickets, they ended their shows that night... Over 300 shows they put on of it... Unlucky
And on this card-printout, some of the cast on it (Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, Galadriel and Gandalf) had markings on their face and arms, like Legolas had a long line go down the one side of his face going over his eye, maybe for more theatrical purposes?...
As this thread is called 'cast tattoos', this other cast of LOTR characters could be added...
Which reminds me, a friend of mine gave me a card-printout of the Lord of the Rings On Stage promotion, I would have loved to see it in London, but as I was going to buy tickets, they ended their shows that night... Over 300 shows they put on of it... Unlucky
And on this card-printout, some of the cast on it (Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, Galadriel and Gandalf) had markings on their face and arms, like Legolas had a long line go down the one side of his face going over his eye, maybe for more theatrical purposes?...As this thread is called 'cast tattoos', this other cast of LOTR characters could be added...
