The werewolf myth dates back thousands of years, in numerous cultures; but it became most popular between the 16th and 19th centuries. These stories grew so popular that it seemed almost every town in Europe had its own werewolf tale. Books such as Discours de la Lycanthropie published in 1599, described werewolves as “men so denatured, that they have made bastards of their first origin, leaving this divine form, and transforming themselves into such an impure, cruel and savage beast.”

Brilliant neo traditional sleeve by Matt Curzon at Tattoo EMPIRE in Melbourne, Australia.

Classic American traditional werewolf and moon by Dan Gagné at Loveless tattoo in Montreal.

Another term for werewolf is lycan. Lycanthropy, then, is the change of man or woman into the form of a wolf, either through magical means, so as to enable him or her to gratify the taste for human flesh, or through judgment of the gods in punishment for some great offence, as put by Sabine Baring-Gould in his 1865 book The Book of Werewolves.

Fantastic forearm piece by Darnell Waine in Los Angeles.

Crisp half sleeve by Chris Ramirez.

When sideshows were a popular part of circus life, people with hypertrichosis were often branded as werewolves.

Absolutely terrifyingly realistic werewolf by Paul Acker at The Séance Tattoo Parlor in Bensalem.

Popular werewolf movies include An American Werewolf in London 1981, The Wolf Man 1941, The Curse of the Werewolf 1961, and The Wolfman 2010.

Black and Grey Wolf Man portrait by Lea Vendetta.

Fantastic realistic and dark werewolf from An American Werewolf in London by Javier Rodriguez Immortal Art Studio.

Haunting werewolf from An American Werewolf in London by Joe K Worrall in the U.K.

Professor Remus Lupin from Harry Potter in the form of his werewolf, done in watercolor and sketch style by Russell Van Schaick Orlando, FL World Famous Tattoo.

Terrifying realistic black and grey piece also from An American Werewolf in London by Matt Perlman Aces High Tattoos West Palm Beach Fl.

A big and bloody wolf man by Elen Soul.

As a tattoo, werewolves are often done in black and grey style, realism, neo traditional, and American traditional.

Skeleton and werewolf by Chris Thompson at 522 Tattoo.

Dark werewolf head with red moon by Alex Werder at Good Fortune Tattoo.

Angry looking werewolf stealing a woman away, by Hilary Fisher White in Brooklyn.

Blackwork werewolf with crescent moon and bones done by James Armstrong at Holy Mountain Tattoo.

Big and bold neo traditional werewolf head done by Jan Veldman at Gypsy Cat Tattoos in Winnipeg.

Midway transformation piece by Jonathan Penchoff.

Fierce and realistic looking werewolf head by Jordan Baker at Penny Black Tattoo.

Werewolf looking to party done by Noelle Lamonica at Black Cobra Tattoo Club.

What’s your favorite werewolf movie?