Tattoos are a unique symbolic language that is meant to code the information about the person having it. Their meanings are not disclosed to the uninitiated and are impossible to decode unless known at first hand. This language is highly socialized, and uses common symbols and words that initially have no criminal association or meaning: animals, churches, angels, etc. Traditional criminal tattoo set tells that the person belongs to the mafia inner circle, that he has a status in this world, and that he earned every tattoo he is wearing. Putting tattoos that are not earned and not deserved is severely punished in criminal society.
Criminal tattoos tell everything about the person wearing them: his biography, criminal "occupation", time spent in prison, social status, sexual preferences, plans for future, etc. As criminals are quite superstitious people, sometimes tattoos have guarding meaning. There are also special types of symbols that are tattooed by force in a violent and painful way as a punishment. Not only the symbol bears some meaning, but also the place where it is tattooed. For example, a crown tattooed on the chest means power and authority, while the same symbol on the back means humiliation. Every detail that is present or absent on the tattoo, is also meaningful.
The most popular criminal tattoo images are:
Animals, mainly the cats: tigers, lions, leopards, also, bears, wolfs, boars - power and ambition to leadership; an image of a boar on a woman says that the bearer is a lesbian. Cat means that the bearer is a thief.
Birds - the bearer loves freedom.
Eagle - the king, mafia elite, leader. Eagle with a suitcase in the claws - escaped from prison.
Churches - mainly associated with prison. The number of domes on the church signifies the length or number of stretches.
Knife - revenge, victim. Knife with a snake around it is usually tattooed for mafia elite.
Owl - symbol of pessimism and death. The owner thinks of impending death or wants to die.
Rose - symbol of love, sexuality or religiosity. Usually says that the person is either very religious or seeks carnal pleasures.
Skull or crown - mafia elite, the person who seeks leadership.
Spider - drug addict.
God - protection from law.
Crucifixion - honesty.
Chamomile - belonging to a gang of robbers. Each petal signifies gang member and sometimes has a name written on it.
Young girl - a teen or child criminal. Anastasia Petrusheva
