Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Science and Society‖ (February 26-28, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2026. - 355 p.

337 compiled encyclopedic reviews codify antique motifs in tattoos, such as the caduceus, laurel wreath, or meander [2]. In a broader historical and cultural perspective, contemporary society's interest in Greek gods and myths can be explained by the resilience of their semantic structure and their ability to coexist harmoniously with classical tradition [3]. Simultaneously, research into antique tattooing methods and related symbolic systems (particularly within the Thracian cultural area) demonstrates the multifaceted nature of these bodily markers. They held not only decorative significance but also served important social functions as a means of communicating status or identity. This complements and reinforces contemporary approaches to reinterpreting ancient iconography within today's tattoo culture [7]. Contemporary tattoos with motifs from Greek mythology serve as a form of engagement with antiquity, where classical images are not reproduced literally but reimagined through postmodern perspectives and individual narratives. Mythological characters and stories function as a visual language that captures experiences of transformation, loss, resilience, and self-affirmation, blending universal archetypes with personal histories. In this practice, the body becomes not only a 'canvas' but also a dynamic archive of memory and identity: the permanence of the imagery transforms self-reflection into an enduring symbolic gesture. The use of realistic and 'sculptural' stylizations amplifies the effect of embodiment, transferring the concept of 'eternal' classical images onto the living, mutable corporeality. The artistic authorship of the tattoo artist emerges as conceptual co-creation, where canonical iconography is merged with modern psychology and the wearer‘s experiences. The historical-cultural contrast underscores the transformation of tattoos from stigmatization in ancient times to a legitimized form of art and self-expression in the 20th-21st centuries. Thus, mythological tattoos simultaneously serve as expressions of cultural memory and processes of myth-making, providing the human body with an additional symbolic and worldview dimension.