Skulls: Beyond Memento Mori

Last updated on: May 19, 2016 at 10:03 pm by Megan Manson

Skulls: Beyond Memento Mori 2016-05-19T22:03:03+00:00 Megan Manson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

May 22nd is World Goth Day, so in light (or should that be dark?) of this, I’d like to talk about that most Goth of things…skulls.

Skull and bones at Fontanelle Cemetery, Naples, Italy. By author.

As someone into Gothic fashion, I’ve loved skull designs for a long time, but I do remember being very bemused when skulls exploded in popularity in mainstream fashion about 10 years ago (where they seemed to have remained to this very day). Nowadays most people won’t bat an eyelid if you’re wearing some kind of skull accessory, but I remember that it was quite a statement when I was a young gothling – it was an instant identifier for someone into Goth lifestyle to some extent (it isn’t necessarily today). Even now, when skulls are pretty common fashion items, some people still can’t get over the “morbid” symbolism of the skull.

It’s certainly true that skulls have symbolised death for thousands of years across many cultures. It’s one of the most common symbols used as a memento mori – a reminder that one day we will all die. Gods of Death (and there may well be more deities connected with death than any other concept) are often depicted with just a skull for a face, as entirely skeletal, or as wearing a skull – the Celtic Ankou, the Mexican Catholic Santa Muerte, the Aztec Mictlantecuhtli, and of course the familiar Grim Reaper, to name a few. Skulls also came to symbolise things that cause death, such as pirates, plague and, in the modern world, toxins.

I believe the skull as a symbol of death and mortality is significant, and as both a Pagan and a Goth, I think it is important to reflect on death and view it as a natural part of life, as one of the things that unites us all – even though it is the saddest and most devastating thing we have to deal with.

Public domain

But I’d also like people to consider a slightly more hopeful meaning to the skull.

The skull is the vessel that carries what makes us, us – our brain. The human brain truly is one of the most remarkable things in existence. It has been called the most complex system in the known universe. It’s more powerful than a supercomputer. When you think about it, the human brain is cutting-edge; it’s only been around for 200,000 years, so it’s taken the vast majority of the age of the Universe (13.8 billion years?) to develop! And as we are part of the Universe, it has been said that our brains are the way the Universe thinks about itself. Yes, we are all indeed a part of Gaia! The cranium also houses our main receptors for our senses – sight, hearing, smell and taste – and so represents the way in which we experience the Universe around us. As a representation of the source of our human emotions and intellect, I think the skull is a very affirmative symbol of the best of humanity. So go and enjoy revelling in skull symbols!

Musings & Miscellaneous

Previous Post

May 11, 2016

Shinto in Emoji

Next Post

May 22, 2016 Four Elements, Four States of Matter

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art, Craft & Expression Musings & Miscellaneous Nature & Science News & Reviews Ritual & Festivals Secularism, Politics & Human Rights Shinto & Japanese Religion Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What material was used to make Moses' basket waterproof?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Tar and pitch Palm leaves Linen and clay Camel hide