Skull tattoo designs

 

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Skull tattoo: meaning of the skull tattoo

A skull tattoo is an absolute classic among body decorations. In contrast to the related La Catrina tattoo, the design of a skull tattoo is not limited to any specific features. We show you how different the motif can look and what meanings a skull tattoo has.

At first glance, many skull tattoos look scary because they inevitably remind you of death. Nevertheless, the motif could not be more common and is very popular with both men and women. And they don't necessarily have to be pirates, bikers or rock stars. In fact, the meaning of a skull tattoo is not as negative as one might assume at first glance. If, in addition to classic tattoos such as anchor or star tattoos, you are also interested in a skull, then find out more about its meaning now.

This is the meaning of a skull tattoo

The meaning of a tattoo is of course very much dependent on what the wearer thought of the tattoo. In general, however, the following meanings often apply to a skull tattoo:

• The transience of life: Especially in the Gothic scene, the skull tattoo is also a widespread symbol for the transience of life, but also for dark thoughts, fears, worries and problems. One can generally see death as the bearer of the meaning of this tattoo. Perhaps such a tattoo symbolizes the decisive death of a friend or family member for the individual. Otherwise it can also be that a skull as a tattoo stands for your own health and that you may have overcome a serious illness.

Skull tattoo stencils

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Meaning and origin

• Skull romance and transience

Skulls and other bone parts have a long cultic tradition in human history. But a meaning of the skull developed especially in western culture. In the age of the pirates, its symbolism suddenly played a completely different role. The Jolly Roger stepped on the scene. The human skull was also used later as a military symbol, for example by the skull hussars of the German Empire or the SS skull associations in the Third Reich. When tattoos became more and more popular around the beginning of the 20th century, the typical tattoo motifs developed there, as they are still popular today. Including the skull. That was and is often worn on the hand, upper and lower arm and other parts of the body. In the 21st century it has long since arrived in pop culture and is often only viewed from an aesthetic point of view.

• Origin

The origin of this motif can be traced back to ancient times. The skull already appeared on Roman wall mosaics as a still life element. Certainly in the function of a vanitas motif. From the Western Middle Ages onwards, it has retained its significance as a symbol of transience and death. At the time of the Baroque era, the warning about transience took on new meaning. The 30th Years' War had devastated Central Europe and people lived from day to day knowing that they could die very soon. In other cultures, such as Mexican, the development was different. Christian cults were mixed with pagan cults and death there still has a rather positive meaning. Recognizable by the La Catrina or Sugar Skull motifs. These have their origin on the day of the dead, which is honored at this time with a great festival.