Jolly Roger tattoo. Pirate tattoos Meaning of a pirate tattoo

The Jolly Roger is a popular symbol for tattoos.
Its meaning is known to many from books and school curriculum. But still, let’s “refresh” your memory.

Who is it suitable for?
The tattoo is suitable for people who value their own freedom above all else.
Fearlessness on the verge of recklessness and a love of adventure distinguishes the owner of the Jolly Roger tattoo from others.

Places and style of tattoo.
Traditionally, such a sign is painted on a black background with white paint.
But in modern tattoo culture they have long moved away from this rule. And in our album you can find photos and sketches of tattoos with Roger in a variety of techniques and color palettes.

Symbol meaning

The Jolly Roger is a very old pirate symbol. It means "surrender without a fight."
The pirate trick was as follows: when they saw a merchant ship, they approached each other, and only at the last moment, when the poor merchants had nowhere to hide, did the pirates raise the flag with the “Jolly Roger”. Thus, the enemy was made to understand that if you surrender, there is a possibility that your life will be spared.
The lifestyle of a pirate involves robbery, robbery and a riotous lifestyle.
At the same time, an integral feature of a real pirate is a free person.
Jolly Roger is a kind of game with life, the desire to get "all or nothing."

Video

Video about how to get a tattoo with a skull on a girl’s hand:

Pirates are the kings of the seas, desperate rebels who frightened everyone, even the bravest sailors. Despite the fact that pirates were essentially robbers, they are remembered to this day. Pirate themes are also popular as tattoo ideas. Not everyone dares to depict an image of a robber and a hooligan on their body, but lovers of marine themes will like this character.

Pirate tattoos, origin story

Pirates- These are sea robbers who plied the seas and oceans, and less often rivers. The very name “Pirate” carries the meaning “Try, test.” That is, the one who engages in piracy tempts fate, tries everything to get more for himself. Pirates made their living by robbing other people's ships, often killing the entire crew of the attacked ship. In many countries, sea robbers who were finally caught were executed in public places: squares, markets.

In the minds of most, pirates are strong men, with a beard or mustache, or both. They are fearless, brutal and attract the interest of the opposite sex. Pirate tattoos, photos of which can be found on the Internet, often represent exactly this version of a sea robber. However, you can also find other options, for example, a man with a hook instead of a hand or a sexy girl in the form of a pirate, with a headband and a sword.

Example of a pirate ship tattoo on the shoulder

Is the Jolly Roger a pirate too?

The pirate flag with a smile and crossed bones got its own name - Jolly Roger. Previously, there was no single pirate flag. This was due to the fact that it was extremely important for the robbers to remain unrecognized. Pirates could not sneak up on civilian ships with such an identification mark. However, later pirates began to use this sign on their ships. There is an opinion that this happened due to the fact that during epidemics of plague or cholera, special flags were used on ships: two crossed white sticks on a black background. This meant that the ship was infected. Pirates began to use a similar image in order to avoid attacks from other ships.

Skull and Crossbones Jolly Roger: Pirate Tattoo

Important! In the original version, the Jolly Roger was adjacent to the hourglass, as if to say “Time is running out!” Pirate tattoos, whose meaning varies depending on the image, often include the Jolly Roger symbol.

Pirate ship tattoo in a storm

The meaning of a pirate tattoo

Many peoples have their own interpretation of images of pirates. So, the croutons were based directly on the meaning of this word. Therefore, for them, pirate tattoos, the sketches of which could contain any additional elements, meant a person who is looking for happiness, trying something new to find a place in life. However, not everyone adheres to this interpretation. Images of pirates on the skin can have the following meanings:

Another type of pirate tattoo in the form of a compass on the arm

• Violence and cruelty. This tattoo is preferred by people who consider themselves tough and capable of much. This designation is used mainly by men;
• Rebellion. Such tattoos are applied by both men and girls. Most often the image contains some comical elements. For example, a pirate with a bottle of rum and a parrot on his shoulder. A pirate girl in an interesting pose and an eye patch.
• Wealth Hunter. Pirates primarily obtained wealth. Therefore, their image is associated with the desire to earn a lot of money and acquire material values. Someone hopes that such an image will help him attract easy money.
• Bait for luck. Who, if not a pirate, can expect gifts from fate? It is believed that a pirate is a gentleman of fortune, a robber of seas and rivers. The image of these rebels helps fortune draw attention to the bearer of the tattoo.

Pirate tattoo in old school style

Pirate ships

Separately, it is worth noting pirate ships, which are also common among tattoo lovers. If a simple ship is primarily associated with a romantic nature, and only secondarily with freedom, then Tattoos with a pirate ship are a symbol of ease of movement and a protest against existing rules and laws. Such images are painted by those who love adventure and change of place..

Recently I painted an image of a ship on my back, and not just a simple one, but one decorated with a pirate flag. It took me a long time to choose a sketch; I wanted it to emphasize my slightly hooligan character and love of rebellion. But I also had a desire to express my feminine sentimentality. I think this tattoo was just right for me!

Anna, Volgograd

Pirate with a dagger in his teeth

Myths associated with pirates

One of the main myths associated with the personality of a pirate is the famous black armband. At that time, many people had vision problems; this did not mean that these people were thieves or robbers. However, after the mention of such a headband in the book “Treasure Island”, few pirates can do without this unique accessory.

This is interesting! There were pirates who received permission for their criminal activities from the rulers. They were called privateers. They had peculiar licenses in their hands, which stated that everything done by this pirate was done for the benefit of the state. In turn, the “offended” captain of the robbed ship was allowed to apply for the same paper in order to take revenge on the offender.

Pirate tattoo with one eye

There is also a myth that pirates hid their treasures in caves or buried treasure in the ground. However, this is also called into question. The age of the pirate is short-lived, so all funds were spent almost immediately in the nearest taverns. Although perhaps someone was lucky enough to find a pirate treasure.

I got a pirate tattoo on almost my entire back. I'm depicting a pirate in the best Stevenson tradition: with an eyepatch, wide pants, and a bandana tied around him. I immediately liked this sketch. There is some kind of recklessness in him! I recommend that all freedom lovers make themselves a drawing of a pirate.

Oleg, Zelenodolsk

Video selection of tattoos with pirates

A bottle of rum, an eye patch, a wooden leg, a parrot on a shoulder, treasure maps, chests full of gold and, of course, a flag with the Jolly Roger - we associate all this with pirates. Pirate romance is not alien to modern adventure lovers. This is due to adventure literature and many films showing the life of sea robbers as interesting, full of risk and exciting adventures. The Jolly Roger has become a kind of symbol of pirates and everything connected with them. It is not surprising that it is also found in tattoos. Therefore, today we will take a closer look at the meaning of the Jolly Roger tattoo, the origin of this symbol and the most suitable styles for it.

Why Roger, exactly?

In fact, there was no single flag for all pirates. The flag with the image of a skull and crossbones was indeed used by pirates of the 17th-18th centuries, but not all of them. The ships of the sea robbers sailed under different flags. For example, if pirates wanted to attack a Spanish ship, they could raise the English flag, and in order to avoid a battle with an English warship, they hung the Dutch flag, because England had relatively warm relations with Holland. Everything depended on the specific situation or on the sympathy of the pirates for a particular state.

So where did the Jolly Roger come from then? It is believed that the first to depict the Jolly Roger on his flag was a certain Emmanuel Vine. There was also an hourglass next to the skull, hinting that the enemy had little time left.

The name itself has several versions of its origin. According to the first of them, the English name “Jolly Roger” comes from the French “Joyeux Rouge”, which means bright red. The fact is that the corsairs raised red flags when the enemy surrendered. The English were uncomfortable pronouncing French words, so the bright red one transformed into the consonant Jolly Roger.

The second version says that the flag received its name thanks to King Roger II of Sicily, who won many victories in naval battles. Its flag featured crossed bones on a red background.

The third version also sounds very plausible. If any contagious disease began to rage on a ship, a black flag with two intersecting diagonal white lines was usually raised. This served as a signal for other ships not to approach, so as not to endanger their crew. Pirates often took advantage of this to avoid battles with warships.

In any case, the Jolly Roger is a clear symbol of piracy and the romance of sea travel.

What will the Jolly Roger tell you about you?

The Jolly Roger doesn't care at all whether he will show off on a woman's body or a man's, because the spirit of adventurism can be close to each of us. So, what does the Jolly Roger tattoo mean?

• Freedom. Pirates are perhaps the only free people of that era. Yes, their life was associated with constant risk, dangers awaited them at every step, but this did not prevent them from being free and obeying only their own will. A person who chooses a tattoo with a pirate symbol craves the same freedom. Perhaps he has even already freed himself from the shackles that society puts on us with its conventions and formalities, and now he wants to announce this to everyone around him.
• Disregarding the rules. Pirates are alien to the laws that apply to ordinary citizens; they have their own rules. The Jolly Roger tattoo indicates that a person is his own master and a law unto himself. Within reasonable limits, of course.
• Life for your own pleasure. If a person is close to the symbolism of the Jolly Roger, this indicates that he does not want to take on additional responsibility, he simply enjoys life and does not burden himself with too serious thoughts.

What styles are close to the Jolly Roger?

Talented realistic works always look cool. Realism allows you to depict the smallest details as they really are, to convey emotions, for example, an aggressive grin of a skull or a malicious grin. This style of execution is very complex, so carefully study the master’s portfolio before contacting him, because not everyone can do such work well.

Another style that is quite suitable for the Jolly Roger is old school. This style originated among sailors and is closely related to nautical themes. Bright contrasting colors and clear wide contours make the image noticeable and eye-catching.

The Jolly Roger tattoo is one of the most popular tattoos today. But, unfortunately, many doing it do not even think about its significance.

The Jolly Roger tattoo represents one of the most striking pirate symbols, even more famous than the skull. During the days of piracy, such flags represented a warning, meaning “surrender without a fight.” It is also traditional to depict flags in shades of black rather than any other colors.

Pirates generally led a rather wild lifestyle, for example: they robbed and robbed, but at the same time they were, indeed, free people. This tattoo is primarily suitable for lovers of this particular lifestyle - without responsibility, just enjoying life. Thus, the meaning of the Jolly Roger tattoo is quite symbolic.

One variation of this image is a pirate ship. Like the Jolly Roger, he was very popular in his time, and therefore many pirates had such tattoos. Nowadays, it has become especially widespread after the release of the film “Pirates of the Caribbean”.