Significance of the Skull and Crossbones

Most people associate the skull and crossbones with death and/or with swashbuckling pirates. The skull and crossbones was not peculiar to piracy. It had long been a symbol of death, but the pirates used it as a psychological tactic in their plundering.

When the symbol was placed on a flag (the Jolly Roger), it was designed to strike terror in their potential victims. If the flag had a black background, it indicated that quarter would be given if the victims surrendered immediately. If the flag had a red background, it signified no quarter would be given.

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