Star tattoo meaning prison: what do the images symbolize?
Prison star tattoos and their meaning.
Everyone loves to get stars as tattoos - men, women, and very young girls.
However, not everyone knows that stars are very popular in the criminal world, and when they find out about this (often after getting a tattoo), they begin to frantically search for information about what such images symbolize. Therefore, you should not be surprised that the query “ star tattoo meaning prison
”, driven into the search engine, is quite popular.
In this article we will answer this question by talking in detail about the meaning that such pictures carry.
Origin of Celtic Symbols
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Celtic tattoos reflect the symbols of a rich culture, embodying deep mystical meaning and powerful energy. The images are filled with the complexity of design and unique intricacy, and the graceful endless lines are imbued with the majestic meaning of the ancient people.
Who are the Celts
The Celts are tribes that were close to the Indo-Europeans in language and traditions. Their history begins in the 2nd century. BC e., and reached its greatest prosperity in the 4th – 5th centuries. BC e. The people inhabited the territories of modern Western Europe.
Depiction of the ancient Celts
The Celts lived in separate tribes that periodically attacked Mediterranean countries. Representatives of this nation were distinguished by their freedom-loving, warlike disposition and their reluctance to exist in unity. It is for this reason that the former power gradually began to decline.
During the Great Migration of Peoples, settlers came to Europe, mixed with the local population, gradually pushing the Celts further and further to the west. The tribes managed to capture the lands of Brittany, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. To this day, Celtic traditions are observed in these regions and ancient religious rituals are performed.
The life of the Celts was closely connected with nature, so most tattoos symbolize the harmony of man with the outside world and the development of the spiritual world.
Prison star tattoo meaning:
Often there are stars pinned on the shoulders. It is generally accepted that they are inflicted by people who have earned the status of thieves in law. But it is not so.
Indeed, you need to earn the stars on your shoulders, but you don’t have to be a thief in law to do this. They are also inflicted by those “in the zone” who openly, without fear of consequences and repressive actions, oppose the prison administration, and do not obey the established regime.
The number of rays of a star can be different - a minimum of six and a maximum of ten. But most often it is eight.
It is also extremely important what exactly is applied in the center of the star - the following symbols are most often found:
Although they are not always interpreted unambiguously. The same skull can be deciphered as:
The lightning bolt icon has one interpretation - “crush cops.” And if there is a swastika inside the star, then it means “beat the communists,” although now in most cases it has a more obvious fascist connotation and means “beat the Jews.”
Therefore, when trying to understand what exactly a star on a criminal’s body can mean, you must first of all pay attention to what is pinned inside such a design. The central part of the composition is the most important for the interpretation of the tattoo.
By the way, it is not uncommon to come across the opinion that the stars on the shoulders symbolize shoulder straps. But this version does not stand up to criticism. After all, no self-respecting criminal will ever be able to wear shoulder straps. Even the symbolic ones.
If we generalize the meaning of stars tattooed on their shoulders, then it should be said that people with such tattoos do not want to live by generally established rules, they will never give up their true beliefs, and therefore are aggressive towards other people and their value system .
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Star of David as a symbol of Jews
Now the shield of David is a recognized Jewish symbol. But has it always been this way? In fact, most of the time the emblem had little value to the Jews. In Judaism, the sign was used as decoration, and therefore was found exclusively on household items - on dishes or menorahs (candlesticks). Later he began to appear on synagogues, and over time even on tombstones.
In Nazi Germany and the countries it occupied, all Jews were required to wear the Star of David as an identification mark. It was usually sewn onto clothing or a special bandage.
The sign of David became a national attribute for Jews only in the 18th-19th centuries, also establishing itself as a symbol of Judaism. The six-pointed star gradually became the Jewish equivalent of the Christian cross or Islamic crescent.
The hexagram can be seen on various state symbols, for example, on the coat of arms of Croatia and the unofficial flag of Northern Ireland.
Subsequently, Solomon's seal migrated to the flag of the Zionist movement that rocked Prague, and then to the flag of Israel, adopted on October 28, 1948. It was then that the international community sign turned into a Jewish one.
Legends of the origin of the Star of David as a Jewish symbol
Many people are interested in why the Star of David is called this way and not otherwise. One of the legends traces the relationship between the symbol and the once-living King David. According to it, the king used a six-pointed star as his personal signature.
In Hebrew, the king's name was written with only three letters: Dalet, Vav and Dalet again. The letter “D” was depicted in the form of a triangle, which led to the appearance of a monogram, where two figures merge into a star.
Some sources claim that the king’s personal seal depicted completely different symbols - a bag with a shepherd’s crook.
The star was also called the shield of King David. In Hebrew it would sound like Magen David. Another story explains the appearance of this name. It says that a six-rayed sign was depicted on the shields of the king’s soldiers.
The meaning of tattoos “stars on the shoulders”
An artistic tattoo has the meaning that a person decided to give it.
In the case of prison “patterns,” everything is completely different - they are applied according to the rank of the prisoner. You will learn further what the stars on the prisoners’ shoulders mean, to whom and when they were applied. The prison world requires following certain rules and canons. Tattoos are not applied just like that - the desire to draw a star is not enough, it still needs to be earned (by authority, position, behavior in the caste of prisoners).
Eight-pointed stars, both during the times of the USSR and now, in 2021, were and are interpreted unambiguously - this is a sign of a thief . It is most often applied under the collarbones, but there is an option for the knees.
You shouldn’t get stars in these places just for fun in a tattoo parlor, since when you get into the appropriate circles, the owner of the marks will still need to justify the right to own them.
Visual encyclopedia of Russian prison tattoos
The stars on this prisoner's shoulders indicate that he is a "crime lord" and the medals serve as a sign of defiance against the Soviet regime. The eyes on the stomach indicate the homosexuality of their owner (the penis becomes the “nose” on the depicted face).
A snake wrapped around the neck is a sign that the owner of the tattoo is a drug addict.
This prisoner is not an authority in the thieves' world, but tried to pretend to be one with the help of tattoos, which were supposed to increase his position in the prison hierarchy. The lighthouse on the right hand symbolizes the desire for freedom. The handcuffs on each wrist indicate he is sentenced to more than five years in prison.
The lines placed inside the ends of the star on the shoulders of this prisoner mean that the owner of the tattoo served in the military, but abandoned it and went into crime
The “demons” on this prisoner’s shoulders symbolize hatred of authority and the prison hierarchy. This type of tattoo is known as a “grin” tattoo - its owner “shows his teeth” to the system.
Dollar bills, skyscrapers and a machine with the abbreviation US speak of the prisoner's love for the American mafia lifestyle. Eyes mean "I'm watching you" (other prisoners in a prison or camp)
The double-headed eagle is a symbol of Russian statehood, dating back to the 15th century and used by Peter the Great. The photo was taken during the Soviet period, when a tattoo in the form of this emblem was a sign of hatred towards the USSR. The Statue of Liberty indicates a longing for freedom, and the dark character with a gun suggests that this prisoner is ready for violence and murder
The inscription under the skulls: “God is against everyone, everyone is against God.” A cowboy with a gun indicates that this thief is willing to take risks and will not miss a single chance. A dove carrying a branch (on the left shoulder) is a symbol of good news and deliverance from suffering.
The rose on his chest means that he celebrated his eighteenth birthday in prison. For the abbreviation SOS on the right forearm, there are several options for decoding: “Save from the court”, “Save from the bitches”, “Save from syphilis”, “Save, father, son”, “Bitches took away freedom”.
A bow tie around the neck is often found in maximum security colonies. The dollar sign on the bowtie indicates that its owner is either a security thief, a money launderer, or was convicted of theft of government property.
One of many prisoners who contracted syphilis, AIDS or tetanus as a result of being tattooed in unsanitary conditions.
Is there any rational argument against why any self-professed career criminal or repeat offender should not be shot through the head immediately after trial? At least one?
For what reason should society contain those who openly oppose themselves to society?
The stars on this prisoner's shoulders indicate that he is a "crime lord"
Eyes on the stomach indicate homosexuality of their owner
That's all you need to know about the logic of such scum.
Without the “King of Chukhanov” tattoo, no encyclopedia would be complete.
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On your shoulders or knees?
Most often, thief's stars are made on the shoulders .
Various versions are possible - standard, with elements of a swastika, grin, crosses, lightning. You can see what the thieves' stars look like from the photo - the general shape, the places of application are the same, in terms of design style there may be differences. Only authorities, thieves in law, have the right to wear this sign.
What do the stars on your knees mean? Literally – “I will not kneel before anyone.”
The owner of such a sign will also need to confirm the right to wear it - if you end up with a tattoo in the “Red” clan, you will definitely be tested for strength to prove that you got the tattoo for a reason; the “Blacks” also like to test their cellmates.
Note: “Reds” and “blacks” are prison groups with their own principles and rules of life and behavior for participants. They exist in zones.
Performance technique
Sketches with the Star of David are usually not large in size and look quite laconic, without unnecessary details. You can take one of the following styles as a basis: minimalism, dotwork, engraving or classic.
Fans of body painting in this case prefer a monochrome image, although sometimes red or blue is added to the composition. The symbol in the style of realism looks stylish thanks to the detail and clear drawing (see photo). Most often, the Star of David is tattooed on the arm, shoulder, forearm, neck, shoulder blade, and less often on the leg. Photos of interesting works with this ancient sign can be seen in the gallery.
Interesting video
Other features of the meaning of stars on the shoulders
The traditional prison meaning of star tattoos on the shoulders is one thing - a thief in law, another thing is that with the active spread and popularization of the culture of artistic tattooing, the range of applications of permanent designs on the body has become much wider.
In places of deprivation of liberty they do not talk about authorities - special signs and rules are used that help to accurately determine a person’s authority.
The stars sometimes indicate that this is not a thief in law, but a “denier” or a representative of his group . Prisoners generally don’t like “denied”; the question is who is bothered by it more.
Most thieves in law are excellent gamblers, that is, the presence of stars on their shoulders may indirectly indicate cheating habits (this is an additional, not the main meaning).
The unspoken meaning of the tattoo is rebellion, unwillingness to follow someone else's will and live within the framework imposed by someone, perhaps to work for a certain person.
By making stars for himself, the prisoner declares that he is ready to stand for his own ideas to the end, since they are his philosophy and the meaning of life.
Modern realities
In the internal catalogs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation you can find more than a hundred variations of shoulder stars.
Some criminals who like tattoos use stars even without belonging to a clan of crime bosses and denied it, since examples of drawings are in the public domain.
Sometimes stars make faces that have nothing to do with the criminal world.
It is difficult to say how reasonable this is - from an artistic point of view, the designs look attractive, there are falling stars, sea stars, life stars, a swastika, which are interesting in themselves, but in the relevant circles the pattern can be regarded ambiguously.
Prison areas of application are precisely the shoulders (under the collarbones) and knees; asterisks in other places do not have the meanings described in the article.
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Where to “stuff”?
Such a tattoo is placed on the corresponding part of the body according to belonging to a certain social category. Here are some interesting facts where it is customary to get such a tattoo on the collarbone, arm and back; people with a creative, unconventional outlook on life get such a tattoo.
The Magen David is struck on the wrist on the back of the head on the calf by people interested in or practicing the occult. Tattoos on the shoulder blade and chest with the image of a star are also popular; they are done mainly only for men.
We recommend reading: Star, meaning in tattoo
Stars on shoulders tattoo meaning prison
What do the stars on prisoners' shoulders mean?
Prison tattoos are a special world in which one must strictly adhere to established canons. After all, they are never painted just like that, only at the request of a person, and each drawing has its own meaning, allows you to understand how and how the “criminal” lived, what authority he has among his peers, etc. For example, stars on the shoulders are relatively common. They are endowed with a special meaning, although they can be quite diverse, as you can see by simply looking at our gallery, or by typing into the image search the phrase “ stars on shoulders tattoo meaning prison
».
After all, not only stars are applied to the shoulders, but full-fledged compositions that involve the use of other elements. So, in the center of the star there may be such drawings as:
By the way, the number of rays of a star can also be completely different - from six to ten or even more.
The meaning of the symbol in different cultures
Magendovid appeared in the cultures of different peoples, starting from the most ancient civilizations. The appearance of the symbol remained the same, but the essence has transformed over the centuries.
Some considered the sign to be the personification of God, others found a relationship with Satan, and still others believed that it helped to comprehend secret knowledge.
What meanings of the “Star of David” symbol were found in world cultures:
- in the understanding of the Sumerians, the six-rayed figure personified the goddess Ishtar, the patroness of carnal pleasures and war;
- for the Middle East it represented the white lily;
- in Indian esoteric culture, the sign was used to depict the heart chakra of Anahata, the chakra of love;
- another Indian interpretation is the fusion of the creative and destructive principles;
- one of the oldest explanations is the personification of the four fundamental principles or elements;
- there is also a version about the divine control of the world - in this case, the elements were replaced by the four cardinal directions;
- Christians see the hexagonal sign as a model of the universe, because God created the earth in just six days;
- but some Christians are afraid of this sign, because according to one of the assumptions, the number of the beast is hidden in the hexagram;
- In Islam, magendovid was considered a sign of wealth and prosperity.
The Anahata heart chakra, or love chakra, contains a hexagram.
In our time, the sign of David is often associated with Judaism. It has indeed been present in the culture of this people for a long time, but initially it was purely decorative in nature, only acquiring special meaning over time.
Stars on shoulders tattoo meaning prison. Well-deserved tattoo.
It is generally accepted that only thieves in law wear tattoos on their shoulders, but this opinion is wrong. The only thing that is true is that such a tattoo really needs to be earned:
And other graphic elements characterize the person or his merits more specifically. For example, the same skull clearly says that the owner will be “corrected by shooting.” The swastika used to be equated with the saying “beat the communists,” but today it is equated with “beat the Jews.” If a skull is also impaled on the swastika, then such a tattoo is deciphered as: “I have never been and will never become a slave. Free in body and soul." It is applied to the shoulders of only really authoritative criminals, respected in their environment.
The candle in the center of the star stands for “I live while my star burns.” The cross inside the star indicates the following request of a prisoner or criminal: “May the Lord protect me from poverty, hunger, communists and garbage.”
There is also a special nine-pointed star, inside of which there is a wide cross, and the numbers of the criminal code are “knocked out” in it. This tattoo means the following: “Live and let others live”!
By the way, there is one important “thieves’” rule that must be adhered to when applying such tattoos - the stars should not be located exactly on the shoulders, but a little lower!
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Six-pointed star in Christianity and Islam
Few ordinary people know that the shield of David has some connection with Christianity. But archaeological finds indicate the opposite - it was found on early Christian amulets. And in the medieval period, the signet was more often seen on churches than on synagogues.
Christianity has interpreted the ancient symbol in its own way. Traditionally in Orthodoxy, a star means God. But the hexagram symbolizes the six days of the creation of the world. In addition, this sign became for Christians the image of the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the way to the birthplace of the Messiah.
By the way, another name came from here - the star of the Creator. In this case, each end of the star shield is associated with the days when God created the earth.
The Star of David acquired particular significance in Islam. The sacred symbol can be found not only on mosques, but also in the holy city of Mecca. The local shrine, a black stone, is covered with a special cape with designs of a six-pointed star.
So, contrary to popular belief, the hexagram is also a Christian and a Muslim symbol.
Star Tattoo
A star tattoo on the shoulders has different meanings depending on how the design is depicted:
The star symbol on the wrist of a female representative indicates a same-sex relationship.
Men's sketches
Men prefer to wear images of stars on the following parts of the body:
The meaning of a star tattoo on the elbows for men can be very different from a woman’s vision. Representatives of the stronger sex often apply these images as a small part of the sketch. Tattoos can be performed in various, sometimes even harsh, styles. Sketches are realized in color and black and white.
The meaning of star tattoos on the wrists and other parts of the body today does not have clear meanings.
What do the stars on prisoners' shoulders mean?
Star tattoos in the shoulder area have different meanings. Among prisoners - a symbol of authority and respect. Indicates that its representative:
Often next to or inside the tattoo is depicted:
The number of rays of stars varies, usually there are eight. The place where the tattoo is applied can be the chest,
Its bearer does not live by generally accepted rules; his own values and beliefs are important to him.
Ritual meaning of a star tattoo
A sea star tattoo on the shoulders or chest plays the role of a talisman, protecting a person from the effects of the water elements. This design is preferred by sailors, wanderers, and travelers.
The 7-pointed tattoo is of a ritual nature - a symbol of happiness, good luck, luck.
The meaning of the thieves' stars tattoo
The stars in the shoulder area of male prisoners are especially significant - a sign of authority, power over others. The design is applied symmetrically on both sides.
Crowned authorities who:
The tattoo depicted on the chest has a similar meaning. You cannot apply such a tattoo yourself; only influential, authoritative prisoners can do this.
What do the number of rays mean?
The meaning of star tattoos on the shoulders depends on the number of rays:
The carrier may have several similar drawings. Their number does not change the value.
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Thief Star
Thief in law Jap
If a prisoner has a tattoo in the shape of a star on his body, it often arouses the interest of those around him; it’s not just that he tattooed it. What does a prisoner's star mean? This is clearly a prison tattoo. Similar questions come to those who want to get a tattoo without being in prison, that is, while free.
What can be printed on the human body, in places not so remote, can look very scary, arouse great interest and a lot of questions. Naturally, no one will put anyone down for this, but the bearer of an undeserved tattoo will have to receive a defiant rattle, feel mockery and jokes in his direction.
In addition, you will have to rip it off or burn it. So, before getting any tattoo, it is better to first find out its meaning and whether the sketch is a Zonov tattoo.
The thief's star is the main attribute of thieves in law. This is the sign that distinguishes a thief from the rest of the criminal society. Under no circumstances should such a tattoo be applied to the body in freedom, since one day they will definitely ask for it, and they will have to answer according to thieves’ standards.
If a person is not familiar with them, then it is unlikely that he will be able to lead the conversation and clearly talk about his clean reputation. And if he knows someone, but got such a tattoo undeservedly, then he will also have to answer for his actions.
Criminal tattoos
Criminal tattoos are usually tattooed in places of detention. For prisoners and former prisoners, criminal tattoos play an important role and a special meaning, which not everyone understands. A tattoo on a prisoner’s body can tell a lot about the owner: from the number of prisoners to character and status in the criminal world. Nowadays, the concepts of certain tattoos have changed somewhat, and without knowing all the intricacies of criminal sketches, you can accidentally get yourself a prison tattoo.
In the first decades of Soviet power, the caste division of the criminal community was very strict. If a drawing was pinned “out of order,” its owner could be punished severely, even with death.
Gradually, morals, as throughout society, softened, and the final “liberalization” occurred with the end of the Soviet system and its cultural taboos. The first legal tattoo parlors opened, and the masses flocked to the recently semi-forbidden decoration. The drawings were filled with a variety of designs, including those with prison significance. Then one of the newly created owners of “beautiful pictures” went to prison, and there he was puzzled by the information that he had chosen the wrong picture, and the tattoo was considered criminal. It could have ended sadly.
However, even the severity of thieves' morals turned out to be powerless against the social trend. Gradually, there were so many owners of “self-proclaimed” criminal tattoos in the zone that the fight against them lost all meaning. Sanctions for such “violators” were no longer applied, and this rule is still in effect today.
