Skulls appear in all styles of clothing, accessories, and jewelry, they hold a prominent place in printed graphics and modern tattoos. But what is really behind the representations of skulls, wings, and skeletons that are an integral part of fashion?
Believe it or not, wearing bones and jewelry with metal skulls dates back to ancient history, and the symbolism behind these representations has not changed much in a thousand years.
Men's bead bracelet in lava stone and skull by Santa Muerte Paris
Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and the Aztecs used the skull as a symbol of the cycle of death and rebirth. In these cultures, death was not tainted with the same stigma as in today's Western world, and the cycles of nature (including the passage to the afterlife and even the underworld) were treated with the same respect as the respective gods believed to control them. Real bones were also pierced through regions of the skin and assembled to create jewelry. In this case, the larger the bone, the more skilled and respected the tribe member.
Some original Aztec ceremonies and celebrations involving skulls and skeletal remains eventually translated into a more modern holiday in Mexico, known as Dia de los Muertos, or "Day of the Dead." The Day of the Dead is celebrated in most regions of Mexico and parts of Latin America. The symbolism of the skull still has a very visible connection to these celebrations, with marzipan-shaped and painted candies called "calaveritas de azucare" playing an important role.
In the 15th century, people began to adorn themselves with anything that reminded them of their mortality - skulls and skeletons included - creating what is called "memento mori." The term translates to "remember that you must die," not the brightest of sentiments, but death was different then. Queen Victoria picked up on this idea and launched the trend of commemorative jewelry, which, rather than marking the inevitability of death, commemorated the memory of a deceased loved one.
Leather bracelet and skulls by Santa Muerte Paris
During the Elizabethan period in Europe, rings shaped like skulls or skulls missing the jaw became a symbol of belonging to society. This same representation of the human skull is still used today as an insignia of certain motorcycle gangs, and in the same sense, signifies belonging to these groups, which are considered in many ways distinct from ordinary society.
In more recent times, skulls have been seen with wings (symbolizing freedom in the sense of the dead being released from their physical form into a freer spiritual form), with crossed bones (signifying eternity, danger, or poison), with butterflies (symbolizing the changing nature of life), with snakes (a representation of immortality or knowledge of the world to come), and with crosses (indicating the beginnings of humanity).
Men's necklace Catacomb by Santa Muerte Paris
Emblems and graphics containing bones and human skulls continue to evolve and recycle through art and fashion. Where these images will lead us in the future of fashion, only time will tell.
No self-respecting rock star, or future rock star, can be seen in public without at least one skull on them.
Who started the skull trend? In the rock world, many attribute it to Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who has worn a skull ring for a long time.
Skull ring by Santa Muerte Paris
"Keith has been wearing this ring since the early 70s," says Gerard Marti, former EMI record producer, referring to the ring custom-made for Richards by London jewelers Courts and Hackett. "The skull ring is Keith's trademark. Every rock musician wears a skull in one way or another."
Of course the skull symbol predates the current fashion and the Stones. The skull is a staple, it comes from the image of the pirate, the black flag. It's an image of a rebel, an outlaw, someone who lives their life by different rules.
In the case of Keith Richards, it's hard not to see this skull more as a flirtation with death. Rumors about his debauchery are often exaggerated, but it is certain that he has cheated death several times.
Rosary adorned with skulls by Santa Muerte Paris
Assuming that most rockers, like motorcycle gangs, see themselves as modern-day buccaneers, the skulls they wear are a kind of danger signal. Floating flags were a very effective deterrent in the days of sailors. Pirates had such a bad reputation that many ships surrendered without a fight when they spotted this flag.
To some extent, we all flirt with death, even in our health-conscious era. Perhaps skulls appeal to our dark sides? Or maybe we find this rocker image too sexy to resist?