Church Domes, Beetles, and the "King of All Suits": Symbolism of Russian Prison Tattoos

 Church Domes
Originally, tattoos with church domes had a direct connection to the religious beliefs of prisoners. According to one version, inmates began getting these tattoos as early as the 1920s. When the Soviet government banned religious rituals and the wearing of crosses, convicts started tattooing religious imagery onto their skin. This is how images of the Solovki monasteries appeared on the bodies of thieves imprisoned in the Solovetsky camp. The tradition began with them.

The number of domes (or towers) usually corresponds to the number of years the person has spent in prison. In the 1940s and 1950s, this rule was followed strictly, but later on, tattoo artists began adding domes more freely. The churches depicted are often imaginary, invented by the tattooist. Depictions of real churches are extremely rare.

 Beetle – “Wishing You a Good Theft”
This is a traditional tattoo among pickpockets. It’s usually inked between the thumb and index finger. Instead of a beetle, some thieves opt for a spider without a web or a flea. It is considered a good-luck charm among professional thieves.

 Crown with Card Suits – “The King of All Suits”
A crown tattoo featuring all four card suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs) symbolizes a homosexual man who engages in all forms of sexual deviance. It is a degrading tattoo and typically applied forcibly. The tattoo is usually located on the back or thigh.