Why are there skulls on pirate ships and flags on pirate ships? What does the skull represent? Why use bones?

Origin, Symbol and Flag of Pirate Signs: (Note: Reproduction)

Throughout the ages, ships of various countries will hang various symbols on the mast, which indicate their country or other attributes-flags, pennants, military flags, military flags.

Pirates are no exception in this respect. They have raised the flag on the mast for generations. There are all kinds of signs, they have no strict function, so they can't be clearly classified. We can't tell what flag is hung on the mast of pirates in the Caribbean and what flag is hung by pirates in the Mediterranean. Anyone who wants to know which pirates are flying which flags (as if he knew) will be completely disappointed.

For example, it is generally believed that the so-called "Happy Roger"-a flag with a skull painted on it-is the "commercial" flag of pirates in the Caribbean in the late Middle Ages or pirates operating in other waters. However, the latest scientific works question this fact that seems to have been completely confirmed. Now, from the ancient literature, it has been confirmed that in order to scare the enemy, the pirates in Chiriki raised a flag painted with skulls and skeletons on the mast-that is, a symbol of death. In this way, the original "Happy Roger" who was eulogized more than once has far-reaching origins.

However, this symbol is not the only symbol of pirates of all ages and nationalities. For example, Roman pirates were happy to decorate their sails with a Mercury scepter. In the polytheistic symbols of that era, there was a scepter wrapped around two snakes. The scepter is the symbol of Mercury, the Roman god of trade, and he will also bless smart cards, swindlers and thieves. So Roman pirates didn't choose Mercury as their patron saint for no reason. But in doing so, they did not forget that other gods-Athena's owl, Zeus' eagle and Di Anna's deer were also used as pirates' icons.

In the 1 1 century, Danish pirates decorated their flags with embroidery. The embroidered pattern is a black crow with open wings and mouth. William the Conqueror's flagship "Mora" has a coat of arms with a cross on its mast, and an angel with a horn on its stern post.

Norman flags (referring to warships) are generally painted with dragons; The pattern used on merchant ships is lamb. In both types of ships, the flag is placed on the bow from the right. However, the most famous symbol of pirates is the so-called "Happy Roger"-a black flag with a skull and a head painted on it. The pirates climbed it to their mast before attacking enemy ships. This flag has a long and complicated history, and there are many ambiguities, but it can be roughly summarized as follows.

Historians assert that the white skull wrapped in a big red cloth originated from the famous Varvari pirate Barbarossa II in the19th century. It was on his boat that the flag began to rise. As for the later times, according to the king's order, British armed civilian ships must raise a red flag on the mast in addition to raising the national flag from 1694. It seems to warn the attacked person that if you resist, you will not be forgiven. But with the passage of time, the red pirate flag began to give way to the black pirate flag-"Happy Roger" more and more frequently. The origin of this name is not clear. Some people think that it appeared from the end of 17 to the beginning of 18, but the pidgin version of the French term "Joli Ronge" used by French pirates.

The second speculation is that the name originated in the eastern sea, which means the title of "Ali Raja"-that is, "the king of the sea". The British read these two words as "Ollie Roger". There is also the following explanation: this statement comes from the word "Roger"-a beggar and tramp. In the dictionary published in Britain 1725, there is a phrase "old Roger", which means the devil.

We can see that at first, the pirates either raised a red flag or a black flag, and there was no pattern on the flag. Some people think that skulls and skeletons, as special symbols of pirates, appeared on the flag of Emmanuel Wei, a French pirate in 1700. In addition to the skeleton, a timed hourglass is painted on the national flag. It also has a clear meaning: it implies to attackers that they still have time to think about their situation and make a decision to surrender in the light of the hourglass.

There is also a flag with a picture of a skeleton. One hand holds an hourglass, and the other hand holds a bleeding heart pierced by a dart spear.

There is evidence that some pirates use white flags with black skulls and skeletons, and the inscription "For God and Freedom" under the pattern.

Pirates usually raise two flags first-"Happy Roger", and then the red flag. The first flag seems to be an invitation to surrender. If this invitation is rejected, a bright red flag will fly on the mast of the pirate ship. Proved that the enemy will not be forgiven.

However, what conclusion should be drawn from all the above situations? Undoubtedly, there is only one conclusion: no matter what flag pirates raise on their ships-black flag, white flag or red flag, they will always be the same flag of death.