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Reminder: Make the Best of Every Moment
December Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Poison”
Skull and crossbones, reminder of death.
The skull and crossbones symbol originated as a memento mori (reminder of death) on tombstones in the Middle Ages. The tombstone pictured above is near the entrance of the ancient Moorish Castle in Sintra, Portugal.
Over the ages, the skull and crossbones, skeletons, and other symbols of demise have been depicted in artworks to remind viewers that death is coming.
In the 18th century, pirate ships started to fly black flags, known as the Jolly Roger, featuring a white skull and crossbones. The flags must have struck fear in onlookers as the ships approached.
Today, we might see the skull and crossbones on bottles of poison as a sign of danger, as a symbol of strength on military insignia, or as an emblem of popular culture on shirts, caps, and tattoos.
While the skull and crossbones symbol is a memento mori, it can also be viewed positively. It reminds us to make the best of every remaining moment.
Thanks to Six Word Photo Story Challenge publisher Mary Chang Story Writer for this month’s challenge. Thanks also go to editors Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles and Sandi Parsons.