why is it that a pirate flag has always skull on it?

Question

i've seen many pirates movies in tv but all of them shares the same thing. their flags has always a skull on it just like in pirates of caribbean at worlds end. why is it that a pirate flag has always skull on it and whats its meaning

Answer 1

The Jolly Roger is the name now given to any of various flags flown to identify the user as a pirate. The most famous Jolly Roger today is the Skull and Crossbones, a skull over two long bones set in an X arrangement on a black field. Historically, the flag was flown to induce pirates' victims to surrender readily.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_Roger

Answer 2

They were used to intimidate the enemy or victim, and the flag was designed to conjure up fear and dread.

In popular legend, every pirate flag displayed a skull above srossed bones or crossed swords. In fact there was ample variation, since every crew wannted a unique flag. The first reference to a modified basic 'Jolly Roger' was in 1700, when the French privateer Emmanuelle Wynne flew a black flag embellished with a skull, crossed bones and an hourglass (Henry Every flew a basic skull and crossed bones, though with the skull turned to the side, as early as 1696, on both a red and black flag). It was presumably also used before the turn of the century, although there is no surviving evidence. It may also have indicated that the flyer no longer considered himself to be a privateer, and was a full-blown pirate. What is known is that following 1700, additional emblems on the basic red or black flag were increasingly associated with piracy, and different symbols were in turn associated with individual pirate captains.

Of these, the most common symbol was the skull, the symbol of death. It was also frequently depicted in association with crossed bones, another death symbol (although only Edward England flew the "skull and crossed bones" in it's pure form. Christopher Condent's banner repeated the same symbol 3 times.) Both signs were commonly 'momento mori' on 16th and 17th century gravestones all over the British Isles. Other symbols were complete skeletons, spears, swords, hourglasses, initials, hearts, crossed swords, wings and raised glasses. In an era where symbolism in art and everyday life was commonplace, each had a distinct and immediately recognisable meaning. Apart from the death association with bones, skeletons and skulls, dancing skeletons meant dancing a jig with death, a fatalistic reference the flyer didn't care about his fate. This was also the origin of the raised glass symbol ('toasting death'). Weapons were a portent of slaughter to come, while hourglasses and wings indicated that time was running out (or flying away). All these symbols can be found in contemporary allegorical paintings of death, or on gravestones.

Answer 3

They don't! Thomas Tew's flag has an arm holding a sword, for example; further, the second flag of Bartholomew Roberts had a pirate dude holding a sword with "ABD AMH" beneath it.

That said, many of the pirate flags DO have skulls on it... according to the glorious Wikipedia, this is to show "proverbial ferocity and toughness of pirates." So pay no mention to the grumpus malumpus who says the Pirates movies had fake flags.

Answer 4

Really? Really? You are that dense as to not know the meaning of the flag with a skull and cross bones? I would be more impressed if you asked about the other pirate flags. You are either very ignorant or way over thinking something that is very simple.

Answer 5

Not all the actual pirat flags have the skull and cross bones, known as the Jolly Roger. Check out this website for other pirate flag designs.

http://www.kipar.org/piratical-resources/pirate-flags.html

Answer 6

maybe coz a skull means death and the real pirates weren;t so nice as Orlando or Johnny? ........so that symbol was taken because all the pirates were dead for society and coz they wanted to be feared. Most of the pirates used nicknames. So flag was usually with the skull and bones in x form so that anyone will know that they do no obey any social rules.

Answer 7

In reality not all of them did, its just stereotypical. In fact I think in the 3rd pirates of the Caribbean movie there was some without a skull

Answer 8

Jolly Rogers were used as a means for intimidation and quick surrender by the opponent.

As simple as the design maybe, it was a sign of ferocity back then.

You should look up different Jolly Rogers. Everyone had a different Flag.

Answer 9

the black flag with the skull and crossed bones was to signify death from plague the reason that pirate ships have them is that they would steal these ships and use the simbol to deter being boarded

Answer 10

BECAUSE THATS WHAT A PIRATE FLAG LOOKS LIKE!!! its suppose to have a skull other wise it would be plain black!