Skull Tattoos, Meaning and History [Everything's to Know]

reading – words

Skull Tattoos Guide

A Short History Of Skulls And Other Death Heads

The skull is not a good omen, nowadays, if we find this symbol printed on the packaging of products toxic to humans and animals, it is rather popular among tattooed people.

We will discover in this article the different meanings and symbols about the human skull and the places on the body where it is possible to get this pattern tattooed!

Tattoo: what is the meaning of the skull ?

PIRATES’ SYMBOL

On the seas, too, the sailor would get scared to death when he saw a ship flying a flag with a skull and crossbones because it was also the symbol of pirates, and when they boarded a ship, it wasn’t usually to have tea – although an English pirate might enjoy this delicious beverage, one doesn’t prevent the other after all.

A SYMBOL LINKED TO DEATH, REMEMBRANCE

The skull was used to signal the location of a catacomb. The catacombs we know today were cemeteries in ancient times. As another place related to the afterlife, there are some churches decorated with numerous human bones – the skull is prominently displayed. Take a tour to see what the Sedlec ossuary in the Czech Republic looks like!

MAGICAL PROTECTION

Having a skull inked on the skin can also be a kind of talisman against death in certain underworld circles (biker gangs, etc.) who love this rather macabre representation. It refers to death, the fatality of fate, the vanity and fragility of life.

SKULLS, SKULLS, SKULLS: “WATCH OUT! »

Well, it must be said that the military has a certain attraction for the skull symbol. The Ruby, a French submarine in service during the Second World War, had a skull as its flag. Charles Nungesser’s plane during the First World War had a skull on the fuselage. Much less fun, it was the symbol of the SS during the macabre Nazi regime. In 1740, in Prussia, regiments of hussars were created (Totenkopfhusaren) and they had a black uniform and their symbol was a human skull. France, during the French Revolution, was not outdone with the Hussars of Death.

AN ORIGIN LINKED TO THE TEMPLARS?

It seems that the historical origin of the skull used as an emblem by piracy is not known exactly. Another historical hypothesis (to be taken with tweezers), explains that the skull would have been used as an emblem by the Templar fleet.

After having been hunted down and destroyed in 1307, the religious order that possessed a powerful fleet would have given in to piracy; but I am not a historian, friends, and I insist that we must take this historical hypothesis with very large tweezers.

MEXICAN VARIANT – MEXICAN SKULL – CALAVERAS

Finally, it is difficult not to mention the calavera, the Mexican skull-shaped candy that is prepared for the Feast of the Dead and is a popular motif among tattooed people. When it is colored with garish colors, it is difficult not to find it sympathetic.

Learn More About the mexican skull and Calaveras Here:

CALAVERAS, 4 SECRETS ABOUT THE MEXICAN SKULL

MEXICAN SKULLS, ALL ABOUT “CALAVERAS”

SKULL TATTOOS: THE IDEAL PLACE FOR YOUR TATTOO?

Depending on the size of your tattoo, it is possible (pictured below) to get a tattoo of the entire back – and I particularly like this tattoo because it has the merit of revisiting the skull by showing the entrance of a building that represents a metaphorical human skull.

It can as well be inked on the arm, the leg, the torso and in terms of style I feel like telling you that this motif can be inked in any style: realistic, old school, trash polka!