Behind the Bones: The History of the Skull Ring
Skull rings are a trend that is synonymous with different aesthetic movements, blending the lines between fashion and culture. While we often associate skull rings with rock music, bikers, and gothic fashion, we can trace this piece back through ancient history.
While you might be attracted to a skull ring for its aesthetics, there are several deep cultural meanings behind the bones. The Aztecs and Egyptians used skulls as a celebration of life, while Celtic cultures saw skulls as a transformational symbol.
You can wear a skull ring as a reminder of your mortality and to embrace each day to the fullest. We’re exploring the history of skull rings, their symbolism, and why you should add a skull ring to your jewelry box.
Skull Rings as Symbolism of Life and Death
When we look at skulls, we often think of death. It’s a symbolism that has evolved to reflect how different cultures throughout history approach death and the idea of an afterlife.
Within ancient cultures, skulls weren’t just a symbol of death. They represented the cycle of life and the promise of rebirth. Aztecs used skulls as a symbol of rebirth and the cycle of life, representing the duality of life and death.
Within Mexican culture, the Day of the Dead is a celebration where people wear skull rings and incorporate the symbol into costumes and masks to greet the souls of their deceased loved ones when they return as spirits for 24 hours. This celebration is still going strong today, and it’s still popular to wear a skull ring during these events.
Memento mori paintings prominently feature skulls as a reminder that death is one of the few certainties in life. The phrase “Memento mori” translates to “remember you must die” and is a philosophical belief in the certainty of death. A skull ring serves the same purpose as these paintings in reminding us how short life is.
There’s a duality to the image of skulls that is often overlooked. While we think of it as a reminder of death, seeing a skull can remind us to be present in the moment and live a purposeful life. It represents the mortality of the physical body, reminding us to care for it.
The Use of Skull Jewelry Throughout History
Within Celtic cultures, skulls were seen as the seat of power as the home of the mind, where knowledge resides. The bones of a skull suggest open-mindedness and the willingness to explore new ideas and find greater meanings in life.
In Hindu culture, skulls are associated with Kali, a goddess associated with power, change, creation, death, and destruction. She captures the duality of death, as she is often portrayed carrying a skull-topped staff and wearing a necklace adorned with skulls or severed heads. This necklace is known as a “mundamala”.
These heads are believed to represent her children who she has liberated from having an ego. Death serves as a reminder that we live within our bodies for a short time and all face the same eventual end.
A similar motif is found in Buddhist culture, where it represents the beginning and end of life as a continuing cycle of creation and destruction.
Skulls took on a tougher symbolism when they became associated with pirates, an association that is still going strong in pop culture today. We often think of a pirate flag as having a skull and crossbones as a warning to merchant ships.
During the Elizabethan era, skull rings were a status symbol and were made without a jaw to symbolize bravery. The concept of this piece as a status symbol, worn only by the wealthy, fell out of fashion in the Victorian era. Its symbolism evolved, becoming linked to the concept of equality. The skull ring came to represent the idea that we are all equal in death, regardless of our wealth or social status.
Skull Rings as a Symbol of Rebellion
A skull ring can also symbolize the brave spirit and rebellious nature of warriors, from the Vikings to active military personnel today. Skull rings are associated with several sub-cultures, including the music-based subculture of goth and biker culture.
The Hells Angels, formed in 1948, used a skull with wings as their symbol, which is now widely associated with bikers throughout the world. For bikers, a skull represents a rebellious attitude and the thrill of living on the edge. The symbol is often incorporated into biker jewelry, clothing, and helmets, becoming deeply enshrined in the subculture. Many bikers will wear a skull ring to represent a fallen member of their biker gang.
Skull rings are often associated with the phrase “carpe diem”, meaning “seize the day”. This jewelry has become synonymous with free spirits, such as bikers, who wear a skull ring as a reminder to seize every day as if it’s your last.
There’s a common misconception that goth culture is obsessed with skulls. Instead, gothic culture welcomes embracing things most people consider morbid or dark. Goths wear skull rings as they view death as a natural part of life.
Why You Should Wear a Skull Ring
While fashion trends come and go, jewelry with a cultural significance and rich history remains timeless. We can trace the skull ring back to the ancient Egyptians and Aztecs.
Some jewelry designs can get lost in translation, but the symbolism of a skull ring is understood universally. It’s a meaningful gift you can give someone as a reminder that life is a gift, which we should live to the fullest. Although it’s associated with death, you can choose which historical symbolism you want to apply to a skull ring. Wear it as a reminder of a loved one, a celebration of life, or a promise of rebirth.
A skull ring, regardless of its size, is a statement piece and conversation starter. Add it to your jewelry box as a symbol of life, death, and equality. Shop our range of skull rings, from traditional Viking-inspired designs to contemporary spinning rings.