What do Russian mafia tattoos mean?

The tattoos show a “service record” of achievements and failures, prison sentences and the type of work a criminal does. They might also represent his “thief’s family”, naming others within hearts or with the traditional tomcat image.

What does the Russian word Temhota mean?

‘Temhota’ means blackness or evil in Russian, and defendants and cons use the word to express their mafia-inspired tattoos. Russian mafia tattoo applications have their own glossaries. The tattoo shows everyone who sees it that ‘this man travels, steals, and escapes to tell the tale.

What does the Russian Church tattoo mean?

Cathedrals (Kremlin) (Photo History Channel/YouTube) Cathedrals, or Kremlins, represent time spent incarcerated and are iconic Russian prison tattoos. The more domes an inmate’s church has indicates the number of sentences they have served over their lifetime. These tattoos can be found anywhere on the body.

What does Pakhan mean in Russian?

Pakhan – also called Boss, Krestniy Otets (“Capo di tutti capi | Godfather”), Vor (вор, “Thief”), Papa, or Avtoritet (“Authority”), controls everything. The Pakhan controls four criminal cells in the working unit through an intermediary called a “Brigadier.”

What do the tattoos of the Russian mafia mean?

Russian mafia tattoo applications have their own glossaries. Giving an example, this tattoo might portray the myth of Prometheus confined to rock following the stealing of fire for humankind, but the sailboat on the sea gives it a deeper meaning.

What kind of tattoos do they have in Russia?

No one likes getting called a Nazi. Contrary to the sinister tattoo styles that the Russian Tattoos are famous for, Khokhloma Russian tattoos portray a form of art that is typical to Siberia. It is because of the ample of black ink used in this art form, they are perfect for tattoos too.

What do the tattoos mean in Russian prison?

Cathedrals, or Kremlins, represent time spent incarcerated and are iconic Russian prison tattoos. The more domes an inmate’s church has indicates the number of sentences they have served over their lifetime. These tattoos can be found anywhere on the body.

What does the Grin mean in Russian tattoos?

Grin because it implies a mockery of the government system. Oftentimes, some anti-soviet texts are also added to these designs. The Madonna and Child is a thieves’ amulet, appearing as a protector from calamity and despair. It also implies that the bearer has been a criminal from an early age: ‘A child of prison’.