Hello, I've noticed in the WH40k artistry that skulls and symbols of death are abundant. Be they Confessors of the Hierarcy, Inquisitors, imperial guardsmen, or deviant cultists, they all seem to have grim skulls as decoration. What is this preoccuation of death? I can understand for some characters such as Commisars inspired by the WW2 Totenkopf units, but for some it just doesen't make sense. On the cover of Purge The Unclean there is if course a large skull marked sword, which I take could be the Luminous Reproach. But why would a holy sword have such Ominous marks? Or do the skulls represent something else in the Imperium?

I'm not sure if your familiar with the concept of Momento Mori? Death has been quite a common motif throughout the years but its something quiet and out of the way these days, few people see death around everyday (in developed countries at least)

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

Confessors of the Ecclesiarchy to be precise,-)

Skull is widely used, becouse it´s dark and grim symbol which describe this universe perfectly... for in-universe explanation, skull is universal symbol of humanity (Divine Human Form), which shows diference between pure humans and aliens, mutants and worse thing. Also it´s symbol of mortality, martyrs and those who died in eternal service fof the Imperium and also it could be interpreted as symbol of God-Emperor Eternal in his Un-death in Golden Throne.

Hope it helps a little bit.

I've not studied the sources the original artists used to create a lot of the skull iconography in warhammer and 40k illustration, but my initial comparison would be that they used to some extent a bit of the medieval art as a source post- Black Death as a parallel.

Emerging from the dark ages and trying to put the terrible memories of that behind with barbarians running all over civilisation, wars, invasions there was time where medieval art became a lot brighter, colourful and dynamic. Church had plenty of money to sponsor works if there wasn't private patrons and (you will be familiar with some like Donatello and Cimabue that existed post-plague and their works) But during the darkest days of mankind as the black death slaughtered everyone and a new style of the Macarbe came into vogue as it was some omnipresent in everyone's minds, reflected by the artists in that style.

(ie: Death and the Emperor by Hans Lutzelburger @ 1520-30'ish as compared to the later works of the two aforementioned artists)

I think in short, the Imperials haven't really crawled out of that late medieval period and into a rennaisance with with art (or civilisation). Things did get better for a time, but then they soon went to hell again and again, to the point that death and fear are on the shoulder of every imperial citizen.

Course, might be reading too much into it, they could have just been 80's metal fans who liked skulls, spikes and spandex

Nice explanations guys, especially the "divine human form" thingy.

On another note my next campaign will be named : "Skulls, Spikes and Spandex"

Like the others have mentioned, I believe that the Imperium of Man's preoccupation with skull motifs in general stems from the "divine human form" line of thought. After all, most of a human body can decay, but the bones will pretty much remain intact for a very long time. Hence the skull, which also houses the brain, intellect and in some regards the human soul as well would be the epitome of ajn enduring "human icon".

There are however other races in the galaxy who use it as a symbol of death (like the Necrons for example).

Varnias Tybalt said:

Honestly speaking, it's not just that "divine form", it seems. Seeing skulls worn by IG, it strooongly reminds me of WW2 Death's Head (Totenkopf) troops as the real source of inspiration.

I think the skull motif represents the same to the imperium as the cross does in the modern world.. its a very potent religious symbol and thus people adorn religious things with it, but also that it can and would be used by non-religious types as well.

Coupled with the fact that the average citizen is trained from birth to regard machinery as divine too, its not unusual to expect the skull to be everywhere...

The only thing thats not possible with the skull is to perform a blessing on yourself (as a christian might do when they "cross themselves"), but this is what the aquilla greeting stands in for.

S.K

egalor said:

Well, they use it as a symbol of fear as well. The skull is probably not only meant to serve as an icon for the divinity that is man, but also something to strike fear into the enemies of man (whether they be from without or from within). Which is probably why assassins from the Eversor Temple are adorned with a skull mask. It takes away their individual identity, and given the role and purpose they have on the battlefield it's basically a statement to mankinds enemies saying: "You f*cked up. Now the divine form of humanity has come for you, and it's gonna get messy, VERY messy!"

The same thing probably goes for Space Marine Chaplains, as religious leaders of Astartes their armour should represent the divine wrath of mankind, which is why their helmets also have a skull motif face plate.

So even if the original inspiration might have been from the Totenkopf, there should rightly be an appropriate extrapolation as to why the skulls are so common.

So it seems like there are contradictionary reasons why the skulls are (over)used. In RL europe (medieval/renaissance times) the skull was always a symbol of death and fear, and even today people are scared of seeing skulls and skeletons in "carnivals" and horror movies.

It is true it was used in art alot, which probably had the same attraction it does today, people like to watch horror flicks after all.

On the other hand, cultures such as the Aztecs did not fear and loathe the skull, and their displayed skulls from human sacrifice was a joyous sight as it meant the sun would still shine and disaster averted.

I'm beginning to think it is still meant to be a symbol of death and fear, and being "badass." This it is appropriate for weapons of war, soldiers, assassins and clerics, but not for your friendly neighbourhood Baker who likes to celebrate the divinity of the human form...

Friend of the Dork said:

I'd say some of that stems from the religious connotations of the skull in the Imperium. After all in the Crusades warrior monks would put the cross on their robes but some random blacksmith wouldn't have one on his door. I think it's more of a respect thing. The warriors of man who die so that the Imperium may live are probably seen as worthy, but Joe Baker isn't.

I've personally always used the "the skull is the christian cross of the imperium" explenation, mostly because it's hard to compare how we view a skull in our world (mostly as a grim motif of death) and how the imperium in the 40k universe views it.

The idea of the skull usage to also frighten the enemy I've found to hold little water for me, perhaps for the enemies within but I doubt it would work on the enemies without, mostly because aliens proberbly wouldnt find it all that frightning "oh, so he's wearing a human skull, good for him", I really doubt eldar, orks, tau, etc would care...were they to wear alien skulls on the other hand...

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/dungeons-and-dragons/wtf-warhammer-40k.php

Apart from humor such as the above, what is there to say, really? Skulls are grim and dark and grimdark too, yes? Skull imagery inspires fear in some, and it can at times be useful look and seem scarey.

Cryxx said:

Well, considering that human skulls are as common motifs in the Imperium of Man as the Aquila is, and considering the fact that the Imperium of Man puts good efort into coming across as the most sadistic, unempathizing and genocidal assholes ever to walk the galaxy, they have probably fuelled these symbols with these aspects in the eyes of the alien.

So seeing an army of humans wearing skull and aquila symbols racing towards them would be like seeing soldiers wearing swastikas and totenkopfs for us. (we know what reputation the SS-forces had, and seeing an army of them approaching your location wouldn't be something to just shrug at)

Although some Aliens are simply too "alien" to feel fear (or too stupid like the Orks), but there's more alien species in the galaxy than just Eldar, Orks and Tau. And considering the inumerable purges and wars of extermination commited by mankind, I'd sy that some aliens would probably fear most things considered "human". Including their skull symbols.

Maybe the skulls and bones are related to a latent racial memory of the necrons from when the C'Tan tampered with human DNA to emplace the Pariah gene?

There has been many cultures in the world that used scaring imaginery to maintain their fears away (gargoiles and almost daemonic figures in catedrals), and there is (even now) an intention of many others to get enemies (or allies) in fear with these same way (Vlad Tepes it is said to impale thousands and paint his castle's walls with their blood; after Joan of Arc's death, some said that Giles de Rais brought in battle the heads of his previously defeated enemies).

After all, I think it's all about fear.

To be honest, I can't see the skull motifs used as a "scary": thing. I mean, what class of kindergarteners is the Imperium trying to scare anyway and why would they want to scare those little kids? Besides, when a symbol is so omnipresent it looses any shock value it might have had ruining any kind of fear it might contain.

The Imperium is rife with the symbols of death. It seems you can't take two steps without running into another one. Te skulls are just a part of that. As an earlier poster mentioned, i think they are closer to a memento-mori, a reminder of mortality. The ministrium use them as a symbol for He on Terra and His supreme sacrifice for now he resides in a state of living death. Other branches use it as a sign of their allegiance to he on Terra as well as the topper for all the other symbols of death, a reminder to any who look upon them that they will die. No one is immortal and everyone will die, usually tomarrow or the day after. Life is incredibly short and you never know when death will come for you (but death will, always!) so you better make the best of what little time you have and get to serving He on Terra to the best of your abilities. After all, do you think you'll join with the Emperor at His Table on your death if you should die before your duty is complete?

Look! Death! Don't forget, you might die tomarrow. There's no time for lolly-gagging shifting about with your no good friends. There's no time for a vacation on sunny beaches! Those TPS reports have to be finished before you die and that could be tomarrow, so get them done!

Oh, and the skulls could also represent total srs business... those who wear them are totally grim and serious, all about their grim and serious duties grimly. ;-)

Graver said:

The players of the wargame? *zings*

It's all a ploy to reduce the number of skulls Khorne can use for his skull throne.

Bilateralrope said:

It all makes sense now...

Considering that everything in the 40k universe is supposed to either be grimdark, or gothic, the skull symbol might not mean anything at all in most instances.