There’s something very special about hourglass tattoos. For centuries, they have been used to symbolize the fleeting nature of time, while still managing to retain a certain timelessness. In many cultures, the hourglass has been used to represent mortality and the inevitability of death. It’s also been used to symbolize the balance between the past, present, and future. In other cultures, the hourglass has been used as a sign of fertility, hope, and long life.