A Journey Through the Underworld – Full Leg Sleeve Inspired by Greek Mythology
Introduction — A Story Written in Shadows
Some tattoos aren’t just designs — they’re journeys, and this is one of them.
Long, dark corridors where mythology and art cross paths.
I’ve always been drawn to mythology, and when I decided to create a full leg sleeve based on the Greek Underworld, I knew this wasn’t going to be a piece someone simply wears.
This was a story they would carry.
Myth isn’t just something ancient.
It’s a mirror — reflecting who we are, what we fear, and what we hope to become.
This sleeve tells the full descent from the world of the living down into the depths of Hades…
A story about death, passage, judgment, and the gods who rule what lies beneath.
Hades — The Unseen One
Every story needs a beginning, and this one begins with Hades, the ruler of the Underworld.
I placed him at the bottom of the sleeve — deeper than sorrow, past the gates, past the river, past Cerberus — the final destination of every soul.
Hades is often misunderstood.
He isn’t evil or cruel. In Greek mythology he is calm, steady, and fair. His name, Aïdes, means “the unseen one.”
He represents the moment the noise stops and the truth begins.
I tattooed him holding a torch — the only light in a kingdom made of shadow. His expression carries the weight of someone who sees every soul eventually. Not angry. Not merciful. Just present.
Hades is the anchor of this entire story.
Mythology
Greek god of the dead and ruler of the Underworld
Rarely left his realm; Greeks feared speaking his name
Husband to Persephone, whose return created spring
Represents inevitability, truth, and hidden knowledge
Symbolism
Acceptance
Confronting the unknown
Transition
Stability
Darkness as a teacher
The Obol Coin — The Price of Passage
This is where the journey truly begins.
A living hand passes an obol coin to a skeletal hand in chains — the price required to enter the Underworld.
Two hands.
One giving.
One receiving.
A moment suspended between life and death.
Without this payment, the ancient Greeks believed the soul would wander for a hundred years, unable to cross into the next world.
This scene sets the tone:
Nothing in the afterlife is free.
Every journey demands a price.
Mythology
The obol was placed on the eyes or in the mouth of the dead
Payment for Charon, the ferryman
Known as Charon’s obol
Without it, souls remained trapped between worlds
Symbolism
The cost of transformation
Respect for the dead
Letting go
Passage, transition, rebirth
A reminder that every journey has a price
The Old Man with the Coins — Preparing for the Journey
To deepen the narrative, I created a surreal portrait of an old man with two coins placed over his eyes — and a path leading toward the Underworld behind him.
His expression holds age, memory, and the quiet acceptance of someone who has lived a full life and is ready to cross.
This is the moment before the journey.
Before judgment.
Before the crossing.
Mythology
The Underworld is divided into several realms:
Asphodel Meadows — ordinary souls
Elysium — heroes and the virtuous
Tartarus — punishment
Mourning Fields — souls lost to grief
The River Styx — boundary between life and death
It isn’t hell. It’s structured, layered, and morally complex — a mirror of life.
Symbolism
Transformation
Final truth
Inner reflection
The journey toward meaning
Charon the Ferryman — The Keeper of Boundaries
Every soul must meet Charon, the ferryman of Hades.
He rows the dead across the River Styx — but only if you bring him the obol coin.
I designed him reaching out toward the viewer, as if stepping out of the frame.
Not a hero. Not a villain.
Just the eternal worker doing a job no one else ever wanted.
Beneath him, hands rise from the river — souls who never paid the price, trapped between worlds.
This piece ties the earlier scenes together, guiding the eye deeper into the story.
Mythology
Ferryman of the Underworld
Transports souls across the Styx
Refuses unpaid passengers
Appears in Greek, Roman, and medieval literature
The River Styx
Name means “the hateful” or “river of oaths”
Gods swore unbreakable oaths on its waters
Breaking an oath meant a year in a coma + nine years exile
Symbolism
Transition
Acceptance
Facing judgment
Journeys we do not choose
Cerberus — The Guardian Between Worlds
Above Charon sits Cerberus, the three-headed hound of Hades.
His duty is simple:
Let the dead enter.
Let none escape.
I emphasized his power, tension, and presence — all three heads alive, jaws open, muscles tight. Cerberus represents fear, boundaries, and the things within us that protect or imprison us.
Mythology
Three-headed guardian of the Underworld
Child of Typhon and Echidna
Only bypassed by heroes like Orpheus, Heracles, and Aeneas
Symbolism
Strength
Protection
Confronting inner demons
Boundaries
Power with purpose
What This Tattoo Represents
This sleeve isn’t just mythology.
It’s a reflection of us.
Hades — acceptance
Coins — the price of transition
Charon — moving forward
Cerberus — the fears that guard us
The skeletal hand — letting go of what we can’t carry
A story about endings, change, and truth.
Creating the Sleeve — My Process
A leg sleeve like this takes time. It’s built session by session — like chapters in a book.
Before tattooing, I spent hours:
Merging references
Adjusting light
Designing symbolism
Planning the flow
Ensuring every character served the story
A sleeve is like a novel.
Every chapter must lead to the next.
Every detail has purpose.
This is where black & grey realism shines — subtle, emotional, deep.
Final Thoughts
Mythology tattoos allow me to combine everything I love in tattooing: storytelling, symbolism, realism, and emotion.
This Underworld leg sleeve is one of those rare projects where all of it comes together.
If you’re considering a mythology tattoo — Greek, Norse, or something deeply personal — I’ll help you build a story that feels like yours.
📍 London
✉️ info@roudolfdimovart.com
Bring your story. I’ll shape it into art.
FAQs — Mythology Tattoos & Leg Sleeves
How long does a full leg sleeve take?
This sleeve took around 11 sessions.
Timing depends on detail, your skin type, and healing speed.
Are mythology tattoos custom or based on existing artwork?
They’re fully custom.
We choose the story together, and I build the composition, symbolism, and flow specifically for your body.
Can I mix different mythologies in one sleeve?
Technically yes — but I don’t recommend it.
A single theme creates stronger flow and a cleaner story.
Does black & grey realism last longer than colour?
Usually yes.
It ages beautifully, especially with good sun protection.
How painful is a leg sleeve?
Pain varies:
Outer calf & thigh — easier
Inner thigh — sensitive
Shin & knee — more intense
We always pace sessions with breaks.
For more FAQs, click here → [FAQ Page]