Tattoos with domes - history and symbolism of the prison tattoo, places of application (on the back, chest, shoulder, arm), sketches and photos

Gone are the days when the tattoo was worn only by cons. Today, tattoo salons are as popular as beauty salons, and anyone can use their services. But some images still remain a hallmark of the criminal world.

Domes - this is a prisoner tattoo, the most popular and famous, has an interesting history and hidden meaning.

History of origin

The first images of churches were made by the inmates of the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp in 1920-1922. A coup d'état took place in the country, socialists were in power, and along with the real criminals, all those undesirable to the ruling party were sent to the camps.

The new government did not recognize religion and began actively destroying churches and exiling priests. There were many priests in Solovki, who were not allowed to perform rituals and prayers or to wear any church paraphernalia, including body crosses.

Everything that had anything to do with Orthodoxy was taken away and destroyed. Then the clergy came up with the idea of stuffing domes on the body - because the skin could not be taken away, as well as the faith.

The priests were supported by other prisoners, all of whom were Orthodox Christians. The image of churches became so popular that even today it is associated with places not so distant.

Significance

The religious meaning of the tattoo has long since been lost, but in the prison world, you can't just put something on it. Nakolki is a special language, it will tell everything about their owner: how many walks, article, status, term, etc.

The meaning of the tattoo with domes depends on gender, for women the tattoo with the church is made by convicted for theft or robbery.

For men, such a tattoo symbolizes that the prison has become instead of a home. Also by the details you can find out all about his criminal record:

The number of domes - the number of years spent in prison.
The windows - also symbolize the years spent behind bars.
Color of the domes - darkened, indicates that their owner was in solitary confinement.
Crosses - means that time served "from call to call," if the crosses were missing, the thief could also be "charged."

Once the offender was back in prison, additional domes, crosses, etc. may be added to the tattoo. Some convicts tattoo for superstitious purposes, repenting of what they have done, they want to placate God with an image of his house.

Why do convicts tattoo religious symbols when all religions consider it a sin? Three main reasons can be identified:

The offender thus appeals to a higher power, talking about his difficult fate.
The images on the body are a kind of document of the jailed person, his involvement in the thieves' community.
Nakolkas with Orthodox themes are a talisman or a pledge of good luck in future years.

Where do I get a tattoo?

Most often, tattoos with domes are applied to the chest or back area, this is where you can place the largest picture with all the details. It is also believed that the area of the chest is chosen by the prisoners because of its proximity to the heart, this person emphasizes that he repented and embarked on the righteous path.

Extremely rarely is the drawing applied to the wrist and this indicates the protest of the prisoner, such a church is supplemented by shackles.

If the area of the chest and back is full, the cathedral is stamped on the legs: thighs or shins. Some hidden meaning is not carried by such a position.

Domes in modern society

The dashing 90s are long gone, and cons and criminals have virtually no power over ordinary people. In theory anyone can put a dome on his body, but the stereotype is firmly fixed in the heads: be prepared to be associated with the prisoner who came out of the zone. In addition, real cons disapprove of the use of their symbols for nothing. Most likely, the tattoo will cause more problems than good.

How to Apply a Tattoo in the Zone

Naturally, there are no professional tattoo parlors or apparatuses in prison. Tattoos were stabbed with improvised materials. All prison tattoos are monochrome: blue or black, and the ink for the tattoos was made of ink, soot, charcoal, and burnt rubber. It is still impossible to carry helium pens into pre-trial detention facilities.

There were no special needles, it was practically impossible to get a sewing or medical needle from a syringe, and sharpened staples from books or notebooks were used. To work, the ringmaker tied the needle with thread to a match and used it to apply dye. Later it was invented to use electric razor with a needle.To become a master, it was not enough just to be good at drawing, a person had to know what, to whom and for what can be applied. A tattooist could be severely punished for his mistake. Drawings were usually applied to the body without a sketch.

The lack of basic sanitary conditions led to negative consequences: suppuration, gangrene, amputation, infection with hepatitis, AIDS. Being aware of such consequences, convicts were and are still doing tattoos.