Flags Mart Posting Page
Thursday, January 31, 2008




Pirate Regular Flag



Size: 3'x5' most popular size



Click here to enlarge



The pirate flag, or Jolly Roger as it was also known was meant to strike fear into the hearts any merchant that saw it. It probably traces its origins to the plain black flag that a ship would fly to warn another to surrender at once. They were used to intimidate the enemy or victim, and the flag was designed to conjure up fear and dread. It was an important part of the pirate armory, and was the pirate's best form of psychological warfare, especially when combined with a preceding reputation of not showing any quarter if opposed. Threatening images on the flag were often associated with a known pirate, or could conjure up more specific warnings.
In popular legend, every pirate flag displayed a skull above crossed bones or crossed swords. However, there was ample variation, since every crew wanted a unique flag. 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. Other symbols were complete skeletons, spears, swords, hourglasses, initials, hearts, crossed swords, wings and raised glasses. 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. And also the symbols were often combined.




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by: Flags Mart

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