While sometimes inked in monochrome

graces either end of this Celtic knotwork band that will equally well embellish a lower back or an upper arm

The tattoo can be rendered in black and white in several ways

Tying the elements together in this rendering are pointillist dots

Illuminated E Initial Tattoo with Celtic Design sea serpent While sometimes inked in monochromeThe illuminated text pages in the Book of Kells (c. 800ce) frequently featured one magnificently complex letter beginning a Bible passage. This is the letter E at the start of folio 183r. It features the head of a lion and three snakes, as well as a full body of a lioness, Celtic knot work, and Pictish key patterns. A very ambitious tattoo.