Papo Skeleton Warrior with battle axe. These figures are difficult to find. 3.5-4”
From the eerie bones strewn across the desert to the medical diagrams studied in science class, skeletons have always been a powerful symbol in human culture. These bony structures represent more than just the physical framework that holds us all together; they carry profound archetypal significance in mythology, religion, and literature. Understanding this symbolic value can be both enlightening and thought-provoking, revealing the deep subconscious layers of meaning behind our mortal existence.
Perhaps the most common association of skeletons is with death – the final end that awaits us all. As such, skeletons often appear in artwork and literature as memento mori, a reminder of one’s mortality and the brevity of life. However, this is not the only meaning that skeletons hold. In the Tarot, for example, the Death card features a skeletal figure, but it represents not just physical death but rebirth and transformation as well. Similarly, many cultures view the skeleton as a symbol of strength and resilience, as it possesses the ability to withstand immense weight and pressure.