Skeleton Tattoos【50+ Cool Ideas】

Skeleton tattoo symbolism

The skeleton should not be taken only as a sign of death. To understand why this is so, it is enough to remember what we know about the beliefs of our ancestors. Ancient peoples not only worshiped the dead, but also believed that there was no insurmountable line between earthly existence and that of another world and therefore the souls of the deceased could protect and aid those who lived in the Earth.

The following meanings of a skeleton tattoo are distinguished:

• belief in eternal life and immortality;
• understanding of the fleetingness of earthly existence and hope for a revival of the soul in a better world;
• lack of fear of death, masculinity and courage;
• belief in fate and omens;
• understand that fame, wealth and blessings received on earth cannot be taken with you to another world, that only what is connected with spiritual work is truly valuable;
• passion for mysticism and magic.

 

Did you know? Many Bolivians still keep the skulls of their deceased relatives at home. This seems almost unrealistic in the XNUMXst century, but throughout the centuries the Catholic Church has not been able to eradicate the old notions that each new generation must care for the bones of its ancestors. The indigenous people not only did not bury the dead in the ground, but also kept their skulls as a show of deep respect.

Who is the skeleton tattoo suitable for?

A skeleton tattoo, whose meaning is traditionally associated with eternity, the transience of life and the hope of the revival of the soul, it is suitable for those who:

• you know what phrase was written on the inside of Solomon's ring;
• remember what expression the slaves yelled at the emperors of Ancient Rome who returned with victory;
• hates boredom and monotony;
• value freedom and courage;
• struggle for self-expression;
• loves heavy music;
• believes that a person was not born for pleasure, but for business;
• read contemporary literature;
• heard Nietzsche's name (or perhaps even knows what Zarathustra was talking about);
• understand that pessimism and suicidal tendencies are completely different things;
• understand that there are dark and light sides to life;
• loves life in all its manifestations;
• despite everything, he still awaits the resurrection of the soul.

Skeleton Tattoo Options

A skeleton is an image that allows many variations. It can be made in any size, color, supplemented with symbolic details and unusual elements. Depending on the sketch, the meaning of the tattoo also changes. The most common composition options are:

1. Dancing skeleton. Interestingly, this tattoo symbolizes joie de vivre rather than fading away. Remember the Feast during the plague of A. Pushkin: the inhabitants of the plague city not only did not commit suicide, did not fall into despondency and depression, but, on the contrary, decided to organize a celebration of life in order to forget from the horrors of the world around them for at least an hour. Such a tattoo seems to tell us: Rejoice no matter what! Death is inevitable, it will take hold of everyone, but life is given to us to be strong and appreciate our time!
2. Two hugging skeletons. The interpretation of such an image is quite transparent: eternal love, love of the grave. These tattoos are applied by people who trust the constancy of their feelings, who value loyalty, family and they believe that beyond the limits of life we ​​can meet those we love on earth.
3. Pirate flag. This rather popular tattoo denotes pirate fishing, life for a stroke of luck, faith in luck, and the ability to do everything possible to achieve a goal. The skeleton tattoo, the sketch of which is made in the form of the Jolly Roger emblem, also symbolizes unlimited freedom, the desire to take risks and a penchant for all kinds of adventures.
4. Skeleton / part of a skeleton in 3D. The world of tattooing is developing in accordance with modern technologies. The appearance of computer games and movies, immersing the viewer in a three-dimensional space, was reflected in the sketches of tattoos. The image of a part of a skeleton, the bones of which appear to belong to the bearer of the tattoo, is common among fans of alternative music, fans, punks, and fans of psychedelic culture. True, not all masters can make such a tattoo.

In addition to human skeletons, tattoos depicting dinosaur and fish skeletons are often found. Such portable designs symbolize the transience of time and speak of a person's love for everything secret, the occult, dating back centuries.

How to choose a skeleton tattoo

Tattoos representing a skeleton or its parts are made anywhere in the body. Here there are no restrictions, traditions or superstitions. The first question that a person interested in skeletal subjects can ask himself is what exactly the tattoo should express, what does it mean to him.

Volumetric images, which seem to bare the interior, are rapidly gaining popularity. They are applied to arms, legs, sometimes even covering the stomach, back and face with them. An example of such a pattern is a skeleton tattoo, the photo of which is presented below.

Such tattoos have an emphasized naturalism, make an indelible and vivid impression, but at the same time lose their symbolism. 3D tattoos cannot be considered deeply symbolic precisely because of their excessive realism. In such images, the technique, volume and shape of the drawing are striking, but their meaning seems quite clear.

Sketches showing a dancing skeleton, Jolly Roger or any other similarly-themed image are interesting precisely because of their plot and the meaning that a person gives to a tattoo. A small skeleton drawing can always be supplemented with important details that can see the sketch in a new way. So, for example, tattoos of a skeleton on a hat or with a gun, with a rose (a symbol of love), with wings, with a heart, etc., look interesting.