The Mayan KIMI literally means “the one who died.” However, we should not forget that the Indians had a completely different attitude towards death than the Europeans. Until now, the Day of the Dead holiday is one of the most popular in Latin America.

The Mayan Skull sign is a sign of challenge. It symbolizes not so much death itself in our understanding of the word, but rather such qualities of character as strength, will, firmness and endurance. That is why, in order to avoid misunderstanding the meaning inherent in this sign, during the translation we chose one of its possible meanings - the Skull as a symbol of the strength of the human body.

The hieroglyph of the Kimi sign symbolically depicts a human skull, an indispensable attribute of which are sharp, strong teeth. Often a sign of power is inscribed inside the skull - a mat.

In the pregnancy cycle according to the Mayan calendar, the sign of the Skull corresponds to the 13-14th obstetric weeks of fetal development. It is interesting that, according to modern data, it is at this time that the child’s skeleton begins to form in the mother’s womb and cartilage turns into bones. At the same time, the embryos of teeth appear. They are located deep in the jaw and are not yet visible, but are already beginning their invisible growth as a guarantee of future strength. It is not for nothing that the expression “show teeth” in our country means “show strength of character,” and the word “toothless” is an understandable synonym for weakness.

Thus, the Skull is a sign of endurance and calm inner strength.

"Mayan horoscope: sign Skull (Kimi)", Dmitry and Nadezhda Zima

History of skull symbolism

The skull is a widespread symbol in world culture. This is a sign of human mortality. At the same time, it is considered as the receptacle of the soul, of human life, and has been endowed with unusual ritual value since ancient times. Among the Celts, the skull was considered a receptacle of sacred power that protects a person from evil forces and giving him wealth and health. The skull is also an attribute of Hindu hermits, a sign of renunciation of the mortal world on the path to salvation. In addition, it acts as an attribute of the formidable gods of the Tibetan pantheon. In addition, Taoist immortals (xian) are often depicted with abnormally overgrown skulls - a sign that they have accumulated a huge supply of yang energy in their brains during their lives.
Muslims tie famous saying that a person's future is written on his forehead, with the seams of the skull bones, the curves of which resemble letters.
The skull, along with the scythe and the old woman, is included in the main set of symbols of death. It is an attribute of images of many Christian saints and apostles, such as the Apostle Paul, Saint Magdalene, Saint Francis of Assisi. Hermits are also often depicted with a skull, which symbolizes their thoughts about death. Some crucifixion icons are depicted with a skull and crossbones at the base and are a reminder of Jesus' death on the cross. According to one legend, this cross stands on the bones of Adam, and thanks to the fact that the Savior was crucified on it, all people should gain eternal life.
Various types of soothsayers used the human skull for various types witchcraft, for example, placed it at the head of the bed and called on the skull to tell the future. In alchemy, the term “death's head” meant the products of chemical decomposition remaining in the crucible, useless for further actions or transformations. IN figuratively- this is something devoid of any meaning and content, a dead form, a kind of slag. Ancient people The Sabines believed that the human soul is located in the skull,therefore, ritual vessels were made from them. Outstanding Jewish philosopher, rabbi,the physician and versatile scientist Rabbi Maimonides burned myrtle around a human skull, Rabbi Eleazar described the method of making a teraphim (ancestral anthropomorphic idol) - slaughter the first-born, cut off the head, salt it and put a gold plate with an inscription under the tongue, and then wait for messages from him. In the Bible, teraphim first appear in connection with Rachel. She takes them from the house of her father Laban the Aramean in Mesopotamia (Gen. 31:19), from which it is usually concluded that the cult of the teraphim came to the Israelites from the Arameans. Rachel kidnapped Laban's teraphim so that the skull would not alert her father to Jacob's flight. Remnants of the Lemurian cult of the teraphim can be seen in Christianity - Adam's Head, as well as in the occultism of the Reich, where there was a special order and an entire division called "Totenkopf" or "Death's Head". Even in modern life For some time, one of the symbols of the Moscow International Film Festival was the red head of the teraphim.
"Adam's Head"(“Adam’s Head”) or “Death’s Head” (German: Totenkopf) is a symbol of death and at the same time fearlessness in the face of it, depicted in the form of a skull with crossbones (most often white or silver on a black background). Bones and skull, as the most stubbornly resistant to decay, and less susceptible to decomposition than othersorganic tissue, in many ancient cultures for several centuries, symbolized the ability for physical rebirth, vital energy and fortitude, and were not only harbingers of intimidation, destruction and death. The Death's Head symbol is close to the pirate Jolly Roger.
The skull has been a sign of death and the inherent frailty of existence in all living things since ancient times. The human skull, either separately or included in complex compositions, is one of the most widespread artistic subjects.

Christian roots

In traditional Russian culture, the skull with the bones crossed underneath it bears the established name “Adam’s Head” (or “Adam’s Head”) and has ancient Christian origins. According to legend, Adam's ashes rested on Calvary, where the Crucifixion of Christ took place. According to Orthodox belief, the blood of Christ washed the skull of Adam, according to God’s providence, and all of humanity in his person from sinful filth, thereby giving hope for salvation. So Adam's head carries deep symbolic meaning deliverance from spiritual death and salvation in the traditional Christian sense. The image of a skull can be seen on many versions of the Crucifixion or Cross, such as, for example, on the Orthodox monastic schema.

History of the use of the symbol in warfare

Throughout human history, the emblem of the "death's head" used by the British, French, Finnish, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Austrian, Italian and Polish armed forces primarily in cavalry, aviation, flamethrower, assault and tank units, US Army special forces and other units. In the ancient German states of Prussia and Brunswick, both cavalry and infantry units existed for a long time, the emblems of which were skulls and crossbones on uniform headdresses. In the middle of the 18th century, the symbol of death became incredibly popular among the army units of countries Western Europe. At this time, the basis for the uniform of the later “shock units” of the armies of Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany and other countries was created.
For the first time, the “death’s head” as an element of the uniform of military units began to be used in the middle of the 18th century by the shock hussar regiments of the Prussian army of Frederick the Great (“death’s head hussars” - German “Totenkopfhusaren”). The terrifying uniform of the Prussian hussars consisted of: black chikchir (uniform tight pants), dolman (hussar uniform) and mentik (mantle), black mirliton hat (“Fluegelmuetze”) with a silver emblem of a skull and crossbones, symbolizing the sacred unity of death and war in battlefield.
The symbolism of “death and immortality” appeared around the 18th century also in the British army, specifically in the 17th Uhlan regiment in honor of General Wolf, killed in the war against the French in 1759 in Quebec. In 1855, inDuring the Crimean War, after the fatal attack of the British Light Horse Guards, destroyed by Russian artillery and infantry fire (and therefore called by British military sources the “attack in the Valley of Death”) during the battle of Balaklava, the symbol of the “death’s head” received additional meaning. The skull and crossbones were placed above crossed lancers, which rested on a ribbon with the saying “DEATH OR GLORY” - which translated means “DEATH OR GLORY” (after some time the peaks were removed from the emblem, but the skull and crossbones were left).
The “Black Legion” of the Duke of Brunswick, which fought against the French interventionists until the fateful battle of Waterloo in 1815, used the “Adam’s Head” as its emblem, from which the skull and bones of the special “Brunswick type” were derived. The so-called “Death’s Head” was also the emblem of the “Hussars of Death” regiment (French: “houssards de la mort”), which consisted of French royalist emigrants who fought against the revolutionary regime that had also established itself in the Russian troops.

Use of symbols of the Russian Imperial Army

In the Russian Imperial Army the symbolism of “death” and immortality" was first used during the period Patriotic War 1812, one of the cavalry regiments of the St. Petersburg militia, which bore the formidable names “Deadly” or “Immortal” regiment. On the headdresses of the officers of this unit there was a medallion made of silver with a skull and crossbones underneath. This symbol (at least in relation to Russian troops) was used not so much as a symbol of death, but rather as a symbol of immortality, as follows from the name of the regiment.
The coat of arms for headdresses in the form of a skull and crossbones was officially approved by Emperor Nicholas II in the twentieth century as a sign of one of the regular cavalry regiments of the Russian army - the Alexandria Hussar Regiment. Her Majesty's badge of the 1st Squadron of the 5th Alexandria Hussars was "all black with a silver Adam's head (regimental emblem), with a frame of hussars' silver braid"; the badge of the 2nd squadron was “all black, with a silver Adam’s head.”
The “Dead Head” was also present on the crowns of the caps of officers of the 4th Mariupol Hussar Regiment and on the black badges (as “small flags” have long been called in the Russian army) of the Don 17th (“Baklanovsky”) Cossack Regiment. As Sytin’s “Military Encyclopedia” (1915 edition) points out, General Ya. P. Baklanov, who became very popular at that time in Russia thanks to his numerous exploits in the Caucasus, once, while in the Grozny fortress, “received an opportunity” parcel, unknown from whom and from where. When the parcel was opened, a black silk badge was found in it.” The badge was decorated with an embroidered “Adam’s head” (skull and crossbones) white, framed by a motto repeating the final phrase of the Symbol of the Christian Faith: “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen." “That same gloomy badge terrified the Chechens,” adds the biographer, “and Baklanov did not part with it until the very end of his life.”
At the hero's grave Caucasian war At the Novodevichy cemetery in St. Petersburg, a monument was erected to him using voluntary donations (the general died in poverty and was buried with money from the Don Army). The monument depicts “a rock on which a hat and burka are thrown, with a black “Baklanovsky” badge peeking out from under the hat.”

The use of symbolism during the First World War

The "Adam's Head" emblem was used in the military aviation of the Russian army during the First World War. It was decided to introduce, as an additional award and insignia for pilots who shot down enemy airplanes, the St. George bar, on which the emblem of a skull and crossbones was proposed to mark the number of liquidated aircraft: golden skulls and bones - tens, silver skulls - a few. Many of these ideas were put into practice; such signs, like others, were preserved in the form of a “death’s head” attached to an airplane propeller.
This symbolism was also used in shock units of the Russian army during the period October Revolution 1917 (the most famous were the “Kornilov Shock Regiment”, as well as the “Women’s Combat Team or Death Battalion” led by Maria Bochkareva, who defended Winter Palace from the Bolsheviks during the events of October 1917, a special badge in the form of a “death’s head” on a black and red ribbon was established to reward them in 1917.

Use of the symbol during the Civil War in post-revolutionary Russia

In the White Army during the Civil War, in addition to the Kornilovites mentioned above, many other similar units were formed: Drozdovites, Markovites, Annenkovites, soldiers of the Western Volunteer Army under the leadership of General Prince Avalov (Bermondt), fighters of Ataman Bulak-Balakhovich, detachments of Don Cossacks - Gundorovites, officers of the so-called Iron Brigade of the Czechoslovakian Corps, shock units of General Gaida, soldiers of the Siberian assault brigade led by Colonel Pepelyaev and many others. Their symbolism necessarily included a “death’s head” - as a symbol of death and resurrection, while the same idea was often expressed in the black and white “Schemnite” color scheme military uniform units of the White Guard: on caps, shoulder straps, hats, badges, patches, banners, awards, rings, breastplates. In order to emphasize their “crusader-monastic” character, the soldiers of the White Guard formations often used the Orthodox or Maltese so-called “cavalier” (“knight’s”) white cross as their symbol, and the Markovites even attached black rosary-ladders to their belts.
It should be noted that the White Guards in their symbolism combined the “skull and crossbones” with readiness, if necessary, to die to save Russia (the inscription on the banner of the “Tsarskoe Selo Death Battalion” embroidered with a “dead head” read: “ Better death than the death of the Motherland"), and often with the face of Christ the Savior, who was present on the banner of the “Women’s Death Battalion” led by Maria Bochkareva.
On the other side,The “Red Terror” also took place under the banner of the skull and crossbones (the archives contain a photograph of a demonstration of security officers
Petrograd, marching under the slogan: “Death to the bourgeoisie and its minions, long live the red terrorist!”). Moreover, on the banners of the Bolshevik detachments, the “death’s head” was often present in combination with obligatory calls to kill someone (“the world bourgeoisie” or, for example, “enemies of the working people,” on some - “counter-revolutionaries” or “henchmen of the old regime”). Petty Officer Yarich-Zapilsky, who served in the Ukrainian Galician Army, describing the efforts of the Odessa security officer to recruit captured officers into the service of the Soviets, noted: “On the collar of his jacket is a golden skull with two bones, a sign of the Cheka.”
The banner of the anarcho-communist detachment of the famous Father Makhno also had an image of a “death’s head” and the inscription: “Death to all who interfere with the freedom of the working people.”
Soon, after the end of the First World War, the voluntary surrender of Germany and the revolution that broke out there in November 1918, the “death’s head” sign began to be used in their uniforms by fighters of the volunteer corps (“Freikorps”), formed by the government of the Republicans Friedrich Ebert, Gustav Noske and Philipp Scheidemann to fight the Bolsheviks-Spartacists.

Use of the Death's Head symbol in World War II

During the Second World War the skull and crossbones were used by soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Cossack Division, later the XV Cavalry Cossack Corps under the leadership of German Army General Helmut von Pannwitz, along with other Cossack units and units that were part of the German Wehrmacht, and later the SS troops (for example, in 3 1st SS Guards Tank Division "Totenkopf"). Meanwhile, the use of the “death’s head” as a symbol of military guard units is explained by the fact that most The first SS men were in the Freikorps, who fought for the preservation of conservative German values ​​against liberalism and Bolshevism. Initially, the Prussian-style “death’s head” symbol was taken as the basis. Members of Hitler's "Staff Guard" also chose the "Totenkopf" as their unit's emblem in 1923, initially using a small number of emblems left over from the First World War. When the stocks of symbols were exhausted, the SS leadership placed an order to the Munich firm of Deschler for production large number"dead heads" of the original sample.
The “Dead Head” remained the only part of the SS uniform that was present throughout the organization’s long history (of course, not counting the generally accepted party swastika). The SS men chose this particular symbol for their emblem not because they pursued the goal of “intimidating” or “terrifying” the political opponents of the party. On the contrary, the “dead head” was considered a positive sign in Germany at that time. According to the famous British military historian Robin Lumsden, "The German Nazis perceived the death's head primarily as a historical emblem of some elite units of Imperial Germany."
At the same time, it would be incorrect to attribute SS monopoly right to use the “dead head” emblem. It is worth mentioning the fact that in addition to security units, the symbolism of death was also used as an emblem by some parts of the Wehrmacht.
By the time 1934 arrived, the Prussian-style symbol appeared on the standards of German tank units. And the leadership of the SS created and approved a new sketch of a “death’s head”, which had a lower jaw. The new emblem was distinguished by great anatomical accuracy. From the same period, the emblem was issued in multiple versions: with a skull turned to the right, left and full face (the last two options were used less frequently than the first).
Skulls on unit headdresses were worn by members of absolutely all SS divisions without exception. The symbolism of death was associated among members of the organization with courage and military self-sacrifice, and ideologically with the fight against liberalism and Bolshevism.
In addition to headdresses, rings, daggers, flags, standards, chains of gorgets, drums and SS trumpets were decorated with “death’s heads”. By this, the head of the organization, Heinrich Himmler, wanted to show that the SS members were proud of their emblem, and that is why its history was told at every opportunity.

Skull symbol in watchmaking

Next, we will move on to watch models, the design of which somehow contains the symbol of a skull.
Peter Heinlen of Nuremberg, Germany created the first onion-shaped pocket watch with a spiral mainspring in 1504. The shape of the body could be either geometric (oval) or stylized as a skull or cross. The watch dial was protected by a cover, in the surface of which holes were often cut in the shape of rosettes with petals, making it possible to see the current position of the hand.
Paradoxically, the skull has been a fairly recurring symbol in pocket watches for several centuries. In fact, if you think about it, every clock in the world is counting down the remainder of our allotted time on Earth.

Mechanical watch with a laughing skull and animated snakes in the eye sockets

Despite the fact that this The clock is approximately 400 years old, and the effect produced by its jacquemarts is far more impressive than the special effects of any modern film. At first the skull may appear to be smiling, then it may appear to laugh, and eventually its jaws will clench sharply and appear to be trying to bite something. As this happens, one of the snakes gradually disappears into the empty eye socket, and the other crawls out of the second eye, only to suddenly return to its hiding place while the first snake jumps back out. In order to find out the time, you just need to open the top cover of the skull.
This clock was designed in 1610 by Nicholas Schmidt der Junger in the German city of Augsburg in the form of a skull mounted on crossed shin bones, mounted on a stand of gilded brass, with a hinged lid hiding the dial. The bottom of the stand is crowned with a hexagonal support made of ebony wood. The watch dial is made of silver and decorated with a floral pattern made using Champlevé enamel. The clock only one arrow made of gilded brass. The swing mechanism of this antique spindle clock has a gilt brass plate with domed supports, an additional barrel with chain, a steel balance wheel with two arms, without a spring, an engraved and perforated gilt brass balance mechanism cover, secured with a screw, equipped with a ratchet mounting wheels. The mechanisms of the automatic jaw and snakes in the eye sockets are controlled by two 6-stage eccentric washers and driven by an additional drum, rotating at a speed of 20 revolutions per hour, so the jaw opens completely in 3 minutes and then closes sharply, at the same moment one of the snakes sharply appears from the eye socket, and the other hides. The height of the watch including the stand is 14 cm.

Watch of Queen Mary of Scots

Shortly before Mary Stuart was beheaded, this terrifying silver watch in the shape of a skull was made for her. The body opens when the lower jaw, attached to hinges, is opened; the mechanism takes the place of the brain. There is only an hour hand on the dial. This watch is one of the early interpretations of the "Memento Mori" movement in watchmaking, artistic references to human mortality. The original hand-engraved movement was modernized with the addition of a balance spring in the 18th century.
According to legend, the Queen of Scots gave this unique watch to one of her ladies-in-waiting, Mary Seaton. The skull is made of exceptional quality silver and is engraved with lines from the famous Latin poet Horace, figures of death with a scythe and an hourglass, images of Adam and Eve, and a scene of the Crucifixion. The lower part of the skull is perforated in the shape of the symbols of the Crucifixion so that the sound of the clock can be heard. The mechanism is located in the skull in place of the brain and is connected to a silver bell that occupies the entire cavity of the skull. The hours are struck by a bell with a small hammer moving on a separate chain. The watch came with a leather case, sewn to the shape of a skull, which could be used to cover the watch when not in use.
This miracle of watchmaking has visited many museums around the world, such as the Taft Museum of Art, art museum Walters, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute of Art Museum, British Museum. Unfortunately, his whereabouts at the present time are unknown.

Skull watch in 18k gold and diamonds

Initially, portable watches were the preserve of the rich and powerful people, thereby seeming to show their power over time, which they can transfer from place to place. The skull, like the crossbones, remained an unusual watch case shape for 400 years. The shape of a pocket watch in the form of a “bun” has been preserved over the centuries, while becoming a little “flattened” and more familiar to us.
Germany and Switzerland became important watchmaking centers, although France and England also began producing watches. It seemed that Swiss watchmakers such as Isaac Penard and his mentor Jacques Serman had a predisposition towards time meters unusual shape, they are both famous for their skull-shaped clocks produced in the early 17th century.
By the beginning of the Victorian era, a fashion for outrageous and antique things appeared. Masters of the mid- and late 19th century made skull-shaped watches for wealthy collectors, equipping them with the most modern mechanisms of that time. Among the increasingly affluent middle class of the Industrial Age, there were all more people with rising incomes, wealthy members of society also began to collect expensive smaller skull watches.
This 18k gold skull watch dates back to 1810 and features diamond-set eyes and teeth. The doors of the enamel skull open to reveal the dial, and at the bottom of the skull there is a small glass window through which you can observe the operation of the mechanism. This model was recently sold on Ebay for $18,000.

Skull pocket watch by Paul Dietisheim

The famous Swiss watchmaker created this unusual watch around 1930. The lower jaw of the skull opens up to reveal a silver dial with large Roman numerals and the author's name at the top. The dial features central hour and minute hands, as well as a small seconds counter at 6 o'clock. The height of the watch is about 3.81 cm, depth - 3.17 cm, length - 4.76 cm. Engraved on the back of the skull Latin phrase"Nosce Te Ipsum", "Know thyself." Buy a watch from a famous watchmaker at at the moment impossible, since they are in a personal collection.

Other models with skulls

There are also many lesser-known Memento Mori timekeeping instruments. For example, a Renaissance watch with a gilded edge and an engraving of Chronos, the ancient Greek god symbolizing time, on the dial. The watches were sold at famous auction Sotheby's for $5000 in December 2010.
Also very An interesting model of a sterling silver watch is equipped with a chain with crossed bones, the covers of which are hinged and open, allowing you to store the keys for winding the mechanism. The Latin reminder of mortality, the phrase “Memento Mori,” is engraved on the forehead of the skull. The dial is made of matte silver, Roman numerals are applied in black enamel. The height of the skull is 4.1 cm, the length with the chain is 33 cm. The estimated price for which you can buy the watch is $15,000-$20,000.
Engraved on the dial of this small pocket watch is the Latin phrase “Tempus Fugit”, meaning “Time is fleeting”. A small silver human skull opens to reveal a watch dial engraved with several skulls and crossbones motifs. The model is a symbol of fleeting time. Ownership records indicate that the watch belonged to Queen Mary of Teck, wife of King George V. The Queen presented this unique watch to Henry Wellcome in 1930.
In the early 20th century, many Old World watchmakers created replica watches in the shape of a skull or with skulls on the dials for collectors. Even now, there are a few watchmakers who make quality sterling silver skull watches, which often get lost in the sea of ​​cheap metal plated Chinese skull watches with quartz movements that flood the market.

The skull is unlikely to evoke positive feelings. The first association with this symbol is death. This is well deserved. After all, skulls are an integral element of horror films and other horror stories. At the same time, in a number of cultures, the skull is a symbol of good luck. In this article we will find out the meaning of the symbol in history, culture and tattoo art.

Who is it suitable for?

Tattoos with this symbol are more common among men. But the symbol itself is still universal and is perfect for girls. This explains huge amount sketches with skulls for girls.

Often, such a tattoo is applied by people whose lives are invariably associated with risk. Including gamblers.

Places and style of tattoo

The skull with a crown is the absolute leader. This is the most common design for such a tattoo. On the one hand, this is bad, because everyone wants to be the owner of an individual drawing. But, look at the collage below. Is it possible to call such works the same? For comparison, skulls in hats that look like gangsters. And the skull in the beret is a symbol of the military.

For men

Sketches of men's tattoos, as a rule, are brutal. It can be a stylized black and white image, which emanates the theme of death.

Wrist tattoos are only gaining popularity. Before choosing a sketch for such work, you need to take into account a couple of nuances. Firstly: this place is always in sight. Secondly: you need to think carefully about how to position the sketch. While eating or during an important, tense conversation, people tend to gesticulate a lot.

Most often, skull tattoos are applied to the hands. Tattoos are placed on the wrists, forearms, and shoulders. Sometimes even on the hands.

Skull on face is a common search query. But this is not at all connected with the popularity of this place for tattooing. This is how people try to find the name of the Canadian tattoo model.

Rick Genest (born August 7, 1985, Chateauguay, Canada) is a Canadian model from Montreal, better known as Zombie Boy because of his tattoos depicting a human skeleton.
Vicky

An image in which a skull is topped with a crown is more common among sketches of such tattoos. Also popular are the sketches: the skull of a goat, a bull, a ram, an Indian, a skull with wings, wearing a beret.

Symbol meaning

In his general meaning , the symbol indicates transience of human life . The symbol is a reminder that life is short. But, at the same time, you should not be afraid of this fact, but live every moment. This tattoo is often applied as a talisman. No wonder it is especially popular in biker circles. The skull, as an integral symbol of death, reminds the owner that all people are mortal and the only question is how much rich life we will live.

The meaning of the symbol can be summarized as follows:

• the transience of our lives
• death
• the truth
• rebirth

For men skull means determination and courage in actions. Sometimes the symbol means a disdainful and chauvinistic attitude towards women.

Skull with snake. If a snake crawling out of the eye socket of the skull is added to the sketch, the symbol will change the meaning to immortality and wisdom. The symbol indicates that knowledge and wisdom will remain after physical death.

Scull with crown- a symbol of power, or the desire for power. In Mexico it has a different meaning: you will have better luck in your next life.

Skull with wings- freedom and carefree. The same light attitude towards life and death.

Tattoo skull with clock has the value of reminding the owner of the finiteness of life. Symbolizes the need for development in every current moment.

Indian skull in tattoo culture it means unity with nature and beyond knowledge.

Meaning of tattoo bull skull depends on the performance style. Celtic style tattoos are suitable for fighters; real wars of antiquity decorated their bodies with this symbol.
Tribal style is suitable for those who believe in communication with spirits. In such works, the color red is used to emphasize the motif of ancient shamanic rituals.
The bull's skull can be used as a symbol of the zodiac sign "Taurus". Such a sketch will suit you if the horoscope is not an empty set of random facts that are suitable in any situation, for any person.
If the design contains flames, the symbol means aggression and the harsh disposition of the owner of such a tattoo.

Sugar Skull, its name is correct "Calavera". The meaning of the symbol is the unchangeable cycle of life. The eternity of the existence of human souls.
The symbol was first used in Mexico during the Day of the Dead festival. Calavera is the goddess of the dead, a beautiful girl with a skull instead of a face. It is believed that on this day the souls of the deceased descend to earth. And the Mexicans greet them with joyful dances and dances.

Tattoo swallows with skull mean a single end for all living people.

Skull and crossbones, located at its base - this is. An unchanging symbol that was depicted on the flag of real pirates.

IN among bikers the skull is a symbol of good luck. This type of tattoo is often perceived as protective. Many believe that such a tattoo helps lovers of roads and their iron horses.

Skull with rose symbolizes simultaneous duality: love and hate, death and life.

Any plant, wrapped around the bones or located at the base of the skull indicates the loss of a loved one.

Flower or other plant in teeth- the desire to live for pleasure, enjoying every moment of a fleeting human life.

Goat skull- peace and goodness. Large supply of vitality.

Ram skull- perseverance, perseverance on the path to your goal.

Raven on a skull- destruction that brings death. If you draw a nest next to the bird, the meaning changes almost to the opposite. Such a symbol will mean longevity and wisdom.

History of the symbol

IN Christianity is an important symbol. In some movements, for example in Orthodoxy, the skull is depicted on a crucifix at the feet of Christ. This is explained by the legend according to which Christ was crucified on the cross and his blood flowed onto Adam’s skull, thereby atoning for the sins of mankind.

IN Buddhism used in amulets and amulets as a symbol reminiscent of the sacredness of human existence.

Among the residents Mayan tribes, only shamans had the ability to control evil. This was confirmed by a ritual thicket made from a skull. It was believed that only a shaman could hold it in his hands.

Ancient Celts believed that the habitat human soul It is the skull that serves. Therefore, they carefully preserved the skulls of their deceased ancestors and distinguished warriors. Among these people it was believed that along with the skull, courage and other important qualities of the deceased passed to its owner.

IN Latin America tattoos are often accompanied by the inscription “don’t forget that you must die.” The meaning of this phrase is that you should enjoy every moment and live to the maximum. because everyone has the same ending. This country celebrates death every year. Here it is truly a holiday, i.e. very fun event.

The image of "skull and crossbones" is strongly associated among millions of people around the world with symbols of pirates, death or poison.
But at the same time, in most ancient cultures, the skull and bones have long symbolized the ability for bodily rebirth, vital energy and fortitude.
Most researchers of Masonic organizations associate this symbol with the Templars, citing the legend:
The ruler of the city of Sidon loved one noble lady from Armenia, but never entered into a sinful relationship with her while she was alive; however, when she died and lay in the tomb, at night, immediately after the funeral, he made his way to the cemetery and secretly copulated with her. And then suddenly someone’s voice reached him: “Come back when the time comes for her to give birth, because you will find (here) a head - your child.” And so, after a due period of time, this same knight returned, and in the tomb, between the feet of the deceased, he discovered a human head. And again I heard a voice: “Keep this head, for it will bring you a lot of good, for anyone who sees it will be immediately destroyed.”
Phoenician Sidon and Beirut were centers of worship of Astarte, where she was considered the main female deity, and was also the goddess of earthly fertility, motherhood and love. The Sidonian kings were her high priests, and their spouses were her priestesses. Astarte was addressed as a mistress - the mistress of kings. It was considered an honor and duty to build for her
temple. In the land of Jerusalem there is the Asherah Valley, named after the goddess.

In Phenicia she was revered as the main female deity. As the "Divine Mother" who gives life, Mother Nature, who has ten thousand names, has different nations was associated with fertility, hence the veneration of Astarte as the giver of life. Among the Phoenicians it was associated with the moon and Venus.

Under the name of Astarte, they represented a woman with horns, symbolizing the crescent moon during autumn equinox, after the defeat of her husband (Sun), defeated by the prince of darkness, and descended into Hades through the seven gates, to which she descended on outstretched wings. Astarte mourns the loss of her husband, Tammuz, who was also her son, and similarly, like Isis, she mourned her husband and brother (Osiris).

Astarte holds in her hands a cruciform staff, an ordinary cross, and cries while standing on the crescent moon. The Christian Virgin Mary is very often represented in the same way, standing on the moon, surrounded by stars and mourning her son. Among the Phoenicians, Astarte was associated with the “Morning Star” - Venus, and was considered by them as an evening and morning guide. “The eye of one’s mother goddess” could not be lost on a sea voyage. Mounted in the form of a statue on the bow of the ship, Astarte accompanied the sailors. Among the Syrians, Astaroth of Hieropolis was completely identified with the sparkling planet and was depicted as a majestic woman holding a torch in one hand and in the other a curved staff in the shape of a cross ansata (ankh), corresponding to the attribute of the Egyptian Isis.

Before the Phoenicians, the Babylonians worshiped Ishtar, linking her cult with Venus, who was the third in the astral triad Sun - Moon - Venus. As the evening star, she personified Venus, and as the morning star she was called Anunit - Lucifer.

The skull with crossbones in Russian culture bears the stable name “Adam’s Head” (or head) and is of Christian origin. According to legend, the place for the crucifixion of the Savior was chosen by God's providence right there,
where the mortal remains rested, i.e. skull and bones, the progenitor of the human race - Adam. Therefore, Golgotha ​​is also called Kranievo (i.e., translated from Greek, literally: “cranial”) or forehead place. According to legend, the blood and water that flowed from the rib of the crucified Christ - the “new Adam” - pierced by the spear of the Roman centurion Longinus, in order to ensure the death of the person condemned to the cross, spilled onto the bones of the “old Adam”, miraculously washed him of his sins, which was a symbolic prototype of the subsequent descent of Christ into hell for three days - from Friday to Sunday - with the aim of leading the Old Testament righteous from there to heaven, starting with the Forefather Adam.

But I can’t understand why pop stars also use this symbol, there seems to be nothing glamorous about it

Life and intelligence.

Innocent children beautiful women or simply random passers-by were buried alive in the ground or walled up in the walls of a building under construction. Echoes of this barbaric custom are heard in many medieval legends. According to one of them, the walls of Copenhagen collapsed several times during construction until a little girl was brought in. The child was seated at a table with sweets and toys, and while the unsuspecting child played and ate, twelve masons built a vault over him. An Italian legend tells that the bridge being built across the Artu River kept collapsing until the builder’s wife was put inside it. During the construction of fortresses, the Slavic princes ordered to grab the first boy they came across and wall him up in the wall, and therefore the Slavic fortresses were allegedly called detinets.

These creepy legends, unfortunately, are confirmed in the chronicles. Thus, in one German chronicle, an entry dated 1463 dispassionately tells about the inhabitants of Nogata who decided to build a new dam. Wanting to strengthen it with construction, they made one beggar drunk until he was unconscious, and then buried him at the base of the building.

The above examples make it possible to understand why in the Middle Ages there was often mention of buildings standing on bones or on “death’s heads.” However, human ones were brought only in exceptional cases. Much more often, animals or birds acted as construction workers: bulls, horses, deer, roosters, etc. etc.

The ancient Germans, Slavs, Indians and other uncivilized peoples had the custom of crowning their homes with building skulls, which served them as amulets against evil. For the same purpose, animal skulls were placed on the palisade surrounding the ancient settlement - it was believed that such a measure would protect its inhabitants from attacks by enemies. There are also known cases of the use of skulls in rituals.

In iconography, the skull primarily represents earthly vanity and frailty of life. The skull is an attribute of some holy hermits: Jerome, Romuald, Francis of Assisi, as well as the repentant sinner Mary Magdalene. Immersed in prayer, the saints carefully examine the skull lying in front of them or hold it in their hands - this spiritual exercise helps them renounce earthly vanity.

Iconographic image of the "Head of Adam"

Of particular importance in iconography is the symbolic image of the “head of Adam” - a skull with crossed arm bones lying at the base. According to church traditions, the first person buried precisely on Golgotha, where he was later crucified, prophesied before: “In the place where I will be buried, the Word of God will be crucified and will water my skull with its blood.”

Based on this tradition, medieval icon painters often depicted drops of blood flowing from Christ's wounds and falling onto Adam's skull, symbolizing the washing away of his sin. Sometimes Adam’s skull was depicted upside down, in the form of a kind of cup where the flowing blood of Christ accumulates. In this case, the head of Adam is actually identified with the Holy One. The skull filled with blood symbolized self-denial and atonement for sins in iconography.

IN fine arts the skull acts both as an independent entity and as the main attribute of personified figures. The same symbolism of the frailty of existence is conveyed in a cycle of paintings that can be combined into a separate genre of the Baroque era under the Latin name “Vanitas” (vanity), where the skull illustrates the famous expression “memento mori” (remember).

Franciscus Geysbrechts, 2nd half. XVII century Painting in Vanitas style

The skull as an attribute of the personified Melancholy, sitting above an open book, expresses the futility of her efforts to master knowledge and. The decrepit old man examining the skull represents the allegorical figure of Old Age.

IN portrait painting the character's hand placed on the skull indicates deep respect for the deceased. The wreath crowning the skull eloquently testifies to the posthumous glory of the deceased.

In military emblems, the image of a skull, which distinguished punitive or elite units, was placed on cockades, chevrons, tokens, medals, orders and regimental insignia. This emblem gained great popularity in the 20th century - the era of the most brutal large-scale wars, characterized by the total destruction of not only enemy soldiers, but also civilians. Among the White Guards, the skull emblem was depicted on the badge of the Kornilov Shock Regiment and the Wrangel Russian Corps; on the cross of Vermont-Avalov, on the “cross of the brave” of Ataman Bulak-Bulakovich, as well as on the sign of the cavalry division of Colonel Gershelman, where the skull and crossbones were located under the crossed sabers.

Emblem of the SS divisions "Totenkopf"

The Nazis introduced the skull emblem in 1935 for special SS units in charge of concentration camps, and in 1940 they extended it to elite SS units, which have since received the name SS Death's Head divisions. Read more about this in our article entirely devoted to this topic.

From the second half of the 20th century, a terrifying emblem of a skull with some minor elements - lightning, wings, etc. - began to use “commandos” and paramilitary units of the US intelligence services in their symbols.

In our country, the skull emblem, as a sign warning of danger, was used not by the military, but by technical services. For this purpose, the skull was depicted on bottles with toxic substances, in ammunition depots, and in combination with a zigzag lightning, as a sign of dangerous voltage, on high-voltage poles and transformer boxes.

In the history of ancient peoples, the skull has long represented the continuity of vital forces. They brought the skulls of defeated enemies to their temples in order to subjugate the life force of the dead, and this example was followed by many other peoples who were at a lower stage. Some tribes also pursued the same goal. North American Indians, who had the custom of scalping captured enemies.

The custom of making bowls from skulls was also quite widespread among the ancients. When a person drank from such a vessel, he, along with the drink contained in it, seemed to absorb the vital force stored in the skull. We can even glean examples of such a barbaric custom from Russian history. The Laurentian Chronicle reports the death of the famous Russian prince Svyatoslav Igorevich on the Dnieper rapids: “And Kurya, the prince of Pecheneg, attacked him; and they killed Svyatoslav, and cut off his head, and made a cup from the skull, bound the skull (with silver), and then drank from it.”

The papal legate Guillaume de Rubruk, who headed the embassy to the Mongol Kagan in 1253-1255, by the way, mentions the existence of a similar custom among the Tibetans, who made beautiful bowls from the skulls of their deceased parents - in this way they preserved the memory of their ancestors and the continuity of generations.

Over time, another function of skulls gradually comes to the fore, designed to frighten the not yet defeated enemy. In the Middle Ages, skulls began to be seen as trophies that terrified the enemy, although echoes of previous beliefs persisted for quite a long time. Skulls of executed enemies or criminals, impaled on stakes or placed in iron cages, were displayed at city gates for warning and intimidation. Sometimes real monumental structures were created from hundreds and thousands of skeletonized heads.

Tzompantli. Chichen Itza. Reconstruction

One of these eerie monuments has survived to this day in Chichen Itza, the main city of the ancient Mayans. This is Tzompantli, i.e. The Wall of Skulls, made up of many thousands of heads severed during sacrifices. The wall is decorated with three rows of reliefs depicting many skulls impaled on long poles. However, to those who had to survive the invasion of Tamerlane’s troops, the Mayan Wall of Skulls might seem like a mere trifle, for such a terrible “architect”, who used it as building material severed heads or even living people, history did not know.

After the capture of Baghdad, at the behest of the Iron Lame, as Tamerlane was nicknamed, 120 huge pyramids were built from the heads of prisoners. The largest of them contained up to 70 thousand skulls. Same scary picture could be observed in India after the fall of Delhi, and in Persia after the capture of Isfahan. Tamerlane showed a special “honor” to the rulers of the peoples he conquered: a “small pyramid” of their skulls supported the high throne of this monster in the palace of Samarkand.

Apparently, the purpose of the “small pyramid” was twofold: firstly, all the former strength and power of the defeated rulers was to pass to the inhuman ruler of the Central Asian power, and secondly, the ambassadors of foreign sovereigns who visited his court became involuntary instruments of politics Tamerlane. Talking about the horrors they saw, they shocked their own rulers and spread the ominous glory of Tamerlane far beyond the borders of his empire.

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The skull belongs to the category of the most gloomy and threatening symbols, causing involuntary trepidation in impressionable natures. In the deep hollows of empty eye sockets, in the deathly yellowness, in the eerie motionless grin, a superstitious person imagined a hidden Death, so the skull has long become a symbol of death and the frailty of existence. However, the symbolism of the skull is not limited to these meanings. In many traditions, especially...