Pirates Skull and Crossbones

What are the Pirate Skull and Cross Bones?
~ The Skull and Cross Bones is an image used on a Pirate flag called the Jolly Roger
~ It is also known as 'Pirate of death' to pirates
~ It consists of two human bones crossed behind a human skull (refer to the picture above)
~ The image is also seen in a ships log next to the names of those departed
~ The image has not always been associated with pirates but has evolved to be the most commonly used symbol and one that we often relate pirates to

History of the Skull and Crossbones
~ The symbol itself may have been taken from tombstones dating back to the 4th century or from the early crucifix which isn't used any more due to the way it was depicted by pirates
~ The image occurs frequently through out Christianity
~ There are depiction's of saints including St. Francis of Assisi and St. Mary Magdalene with skulls
~ In Scotland there are graves dating back to the 14th century with Templars bodies whose legs have been removed and placed across them
~ It is possible that the origin of the Jolly Roger we know today began with the red flag flown by the French Knight Templar's a Christian fighting force
~ the Jolly Roger then evolved to a black flag with a white cross and further into a flag with a Pirate Skull and Crossbones which we most commonly associate the Jolly Roger with today
~ The French Red was called 'Jolie Rouge' which is where the majority believe 'Jolly Roger' derived from
~ Another myth is that Jolly Roger derived from the devils nickname in the 18 century when he was known as "Old Roger"
~ The images used on the Templar's flag where adopted by pirates who saw the potential in the image to invoke fear
~ Pirates used this symbol with the purpose of scaring their enemies into surrender and by the 18th century the skull and cross bones was a feared image
~ It inferred death to those who do not surrender
~ It worked well and in some cases crew surrendered before entering a battle
~ Eventually people caught onto the scheme
~ Pirates then began adding imagery to the original skull and cross bones such as swords and hour glass's (see Flag Symbols)
~ A common myth also suggests that the flag was used to warn others to stay away from a plagued ship

Who was the first pirate to fly the Jolly Roger?
~ French Pirate Emanuel Waynne whose career began around 1700 is one person thought to have flown the first Jolly Roger
~ Others claim Captain Richard Worley flew the first Skull and Cross Bones

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