Skull and Crossbones

and its use in Christianity

The Skull and Crossbones

Skull and Crossbones

The skull seems to be grinning, mocking us, daring us to cross the 'line' to the afterlife. The Skull and Crossbones is associated with death¹. But in what context?

The ☠ symbol has been used, and continues to be used, in a wide variety of ways: It has been used by Masons (often replacing the bones with a crossed hoe and sceptre) and the secret 'aristocratic' Skull and Crossbones Society. It has been used on industrial warning labels for poisonous substances, Halloween party costumes, heavy metal rock bands and the punk subculture.

Pharaoh Ramesses II
1302 - 1213 BC

As a symbol of the deceased, a common idea is that the two bones represent crossed arms, forming a sign of the Christian Cross over the body. However, this custom pre-dates Christianity, as seen in Egyptian mummies of royal males like Ramesses the Great shown on the left. This is a defensive posture to protect the departed in the next life.

In fact, rather than arms, the bones of the Skull and Crossbones are usually two femora (thighbones) which are the longest and largest bones in the body. The skull and these bones can survive much longer than the rest of a corpse and therefore symbolise a long time after death. In other words, it's a symbol of the very dead.

Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean

This fearsome image was copied by pirates onto their 'Jolly Roger' flag as a bravado display of their fearless lifestyle. Pirate Calico Jack is reported to have flown a Jolly Roger flag depicting a skull and crossed swords. We cannot be certain how many pirate ships actually flew the skull and crossbones flag, but perhaps not as many as movies suggest. To do so would be self-defeating: potential victims would flee the area and military ships would chase after the pirate's ship. It's about as likely as a burglar wearing a striped jersey and eyemask.

A burglar would be daft to dress like this

The skull and crossbones (or at least the skull) has been used by military units for many years: In WWII by the German Army's Nazi Death's Head Division (SS-Totenkopf Verband), the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy, and earlier in the Crimean War by the British Army's 17th Lancers regiment. It is currently used by the outlawed Chetnik Movement (Serbia and Montenegro), the British Queen's Royal Lancers, the Royal Navy including the Submarine Service, and the US Navy. It demonstrates their pride after a killing and also helps instill aggression in the servicemen.

The threat of death, it seems, is to be feared. Yet death happens to all of us eventually². The skull and crossbones was used in graveyards, catacombs and crypts, especially in areas with a Spanish influence, to remind us of our immortality.

Cross with skull and crossbones

The ☠ symbol is sometimes seen at the base of Christian crosses, particularly those bearing the corpus of Jesus. And this has three common interpretations:

• The crucifixion was at a hill called Golgotha³ (from Aramaic gulgulta 'place of the skull' and from Hebrew gulgoleth 'skull') also known as Calvary (from Latin Calvaria). A Hebrew root of the word Golgotha means 'roll', as in the round shape of a skull or a skull-shaped hill. In other words, the cross was atop a cemetery, and in all probability, a burial ground for those executed.
• The skull and crossbones also reminds us that Jesus' death was not only physical, but also spiritual, and this spiritual death was for us. In other words, if we accept that Jesus took away our spiritual death, we can attain everlasting life.
• The skull and crossbones represent Adam. Lettering to this effect is written on some Eastern crosses and Jewish tradition holds that Adam's remains were taken by Noah, passed on to Melchisedech, who buried them at Golgotha. The truth of this story is not so important as the symbolism - whereby the flowing of Jesus' blood down from the cross onto the skull of Adam, who committed the first sin, represents the sacrifice of Jesus that washes away the sin of mankind. Including you and me. (see Meaning of the Cross)

The Christian cross, whether adorned with a skull and crossbones or not, represents both spiritual death and spiritual life.

(For crosses relating to physical death, see Funeral Cross.)