The Symbols

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[top]Inks Tattoos


Attachment 3070

Before he was to appear in court; Ink bribed several of the guards at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility to have tattooing equipment and a large number of pens smuggled into his cell. He then paid an inmate to tattoo him using ink from the smuggled pens. The news broadcast found on the DVR in the Tower said that he was "Tattooed from head to foot." However, thus far, only one of his hands and his face have been clearly depicted in detail.

The functions and motivations behind the tattoos are unclear. Records found at the Jail indicate he wrote the symbols he desired to have tattooed on a wall in his cell and the tattooist copied them onto his skin. Several of the tattoos seem to be chemical notation; However, many seem to be magical or religious in nature and there is at least one Chinese phrase or title (Magical symbols include Voodoo Loas, and alchemical code).

[top]Symbols On the Doors Within the Jail

Chapter 42-3
During Carl, Puck, Muldoon and Robbins investigation of the Two Towers Correctional Center they found a wing in solitary with the following symbols on the doors (presumably put there by Ink):

1. A three-lined rainbow with a five-lined fan beneath it
2. A fish on fire
3. Snake
4. Bird foot
5. Cross with a triangle
6. Egyptian eye

[top]Symbol Information and Background

The use of alchemical, religious and Chinese symbols has been found in Ink’s multitude of tattoos and other areas of the show. These were first seen in the cover art for Chapter 27 and their possible significance to the overall plot was initially discussed by Red Shirt in the zombie theories.

The symbols play a large role in Chapter 42-3 when Carl, Puck, Muldoon and Robbins investigate the prison. They find a wing in solitary with doors labeled with various symbols. These symbols are described verbatim as:



During the discussion of Chapter 42-3 Kc provided a full face picture of Ink. With help from Footbutt and FunkyDung this picture was lightened up enough to make out many of the symbols on Ink’s face. Some of the symbols found on Ink’s face match those found in the cover art for Chapter 27 and the symbols described in Chapter 42-3.

Kc mentioned that the “fish on fire” symbol cannot be seen in either of the available pictures. One other picture does exist in the cover art for Chapter 11. Unfortunately, this picture does not provide enough detail to be able to make out any specific symbols on the back of Ink’s head.

Here is a map of the symbols found in the picture of Ink’s face and those in the cover art of Chapter 27: Attachment 2959
A starting point for the description and possible meanings of the symbols is here: Attachment 2960

The following is a list of the symbols as listed in the prior picture. Each number corresponds with the number on the picture and is followed by a description of the marking or, when possible, the name of the symbol (if undisputed). If there are multiple origins and meanings for a symbol, they will be marked to show which meaning corresponds to which origin. For example:
18. Circle with a Horizontal line through it
Location: Right side of nose
Possible Origins:
1. Alchemical
2. Greek
Possible Meanings:
1. Salt
2. Theta
In this example, salt is the meaning under Alchemy and Theta is the meaning in Greek.

THE SYMBOLS:

1. Chemical formula
Location: Head, top right
Possible Origins: Chemistry
Possible Meanings:




2. Indistinguishable mark - combined with #4 below
Location: Head, top, center
Possible Origins: Voodoo
Possible Meanings:
See #4 for description




3. Two circles with a dot
Location: Head, top, left
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:

- Sun
- God



Attachment 2995
2 & 4. Triangle with dots and curlicues
Location: Head front/top, center
Possible Origins: Voodoo
Possible Meanings:

From http://www.ezilikonnen.com/the_lwa/papa-loko.html
Papa Loko is the first Houngan. He is the father of all Houngans and Mambos, and highly respected by all. It is he who confers the asson, the sacred rattle of the Vodou priesthood. He is the guardian of the peristyle, quite naturally being the premier Houngan himself. Salutes to Loko are of the most complex and beautiful, giving him all respect. Loko is extremely strict when it comes to tradition.

Sometimes, even when things are being executed correctly, Papa Loko will appear in possession, and not extremely happy. He can be harsh when he sees that things are not being done properly. He cannot tolerate injustice, and is quick to punish those who have done wrong. He is the master of ceremonies and always has the appropriate answer to any question. He is known as a just judge and is often called in to make decisions when something is being disputed.

He is a master herbal doctor and knows all of their properties for both healing and magic, good or ill. If a particular case or illness is extremely difficult, Loko is called by Houngans and Mambos to prescribe the cure. He passes much of his knowledge about leaves and herbs to Houngans and Mambos, thus we have many of the secrets of herbs for both healing and magic. It is often said that Loko is the wind, or like the wind. Thus he is able to hear anything he so desires. He is associated with the beautiful butterfly and no secret is unknown to him.



5. Chemical formula
Location: Head, top, right
Possible Origins: Chemistry
Possible Meanings:




6. Hearts
Location: Head, side, right
Possible Origins: Voodoo
Possible Meanings: Veve of Erzulie

From Wikipedia:
Erzulie Fréda Dahomey, the Rada aspect of Erzulie, is the spirit of love, beauty, jewelry, dancing, luxury, and flowers. She wears three wedding rings, one for each husband - Damballa, Agwe and Ogoun. Her symbol is a heart, her colours are pink, blue, white and gold, and her favourite sacrifices include jewellery, perfume, sweet cakes and liqueurs. Coquettish and very fond of beauty and finery, Erzulie Freda is femininity and compassion embodied, yet she also has a darker side; she is seen as jealous and spoiled and within some vodoun circles is considered to be lazy. When she mounts a serviteur she flirts with all the men, and treats all the women as rivals.

In Christian iconography she is often identified with the Mater Dolorosa. She is conceived of as never able to attain her heart's most fervent desire. For this reason she always leaves a service in tears. Her syncretic iconographical depiction is usually based on that of the Virgin and Child, because she is the mother of Ti. Common syncretizations include Our Lady of Lourdes because she is usually depicted as light-skinned.
  • The symbol used in Ink's tattoos does not directly match any of the veves for Erzulie currently found however the triple hearts is likely a nod to the three wedding rings mentioned above.



7 & 8. Snakes and worm with x's
Location: Forehead, front, right
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:
  1. 's 7, 8 & 7 are all one veves (symbols for) for the Voodoo Loa Damballah Wedo. This image of a doll with various veves for Damballah that correspond to several of Ink's tattoos

From Wikipedia:
In Vodou, Damballah is one of the most important of all the loa (also spelled lwa). Damballah is the Sky God and considered the primordial creator of all life. The veve of Damballah comprises two serpents prominent among other emblems.

Common altar symbols used to represent the Sky God include white cloth, owls, bones, ivory, cotton, and chameleons. As a loa of the Rada nation he is associated with the color white and white is his particular color. His day of the week is Thursday.

Some of his ritual songs indicate that he "carries the ancestors"[1] on his back to Guinea (spiritual home of the Loa, and the afterlife). Damballah's offerings are very simple and he prefers an egg on a mound of flour or salt, but loves everything white. Toni Costonie relates that Priestess Miriam Chamani recommends cold water, milk, coconut, and coconut milk, honey, shea butter, rice, mild cigars, bread, and cookies. Some houses also serve him with anisette and corn syrup while kola nuts are also acceptable.[2] Traditionally, however, it is taboo to give Damballah tobacco or alcohol in any form.


9. 4 Lined x
Location: Forehead center
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:


10. 保护
Location: Forehead, center
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:
A compound word written in simplified Chinese. As a noun, it means protection and as a verb means to safeguard, to protect.




11. Chemical formula
Location: Head, middle, left
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings: Benzo(b)fluoranthene

As first mentioned by Red Shirt here there is a resemblance between this symbol and Benzo(b)fluoranthene.




12. Double diamonds with line through the center
Location: Forehead, center
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




13. Cross with a triangle on top
Location: Forehead, left
Possible Origins: Alchemical
Possible Meanings:



14. Downward arrow with line through the bottom (bird foot)
Location: Eyebrow, left
Possible Origins:
- Runes (the alphabet of Odin), Rune name Algiz
Possible Meanings:
- Defense, protection



15. Indistinguishable
Location: Forehead, left side
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




16. Partial circle
Location: Right cheek
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




17. Eye of Horus
Location: Right cheek, under eye
Possible Origins: Egyptian
Possible Meanings:

From Wikipedia:

As a symbol: There are seven different hieroglyphs used to represent the eye, most commonly "ir.t" in Egyptian, which also has the meaning "to make or do" or "one who does".[5] In Egyptian myth the eye was not the passive organ of sight but more an agent of action, protection or wrath.

Mathematics:
The right side of the eye = 1/2
The pupil = 1/4
The eyebrow = 1/8
The left side of the eye = 1/16
The curved tail = 1/32
The teardrop = 1/64





18. Circle with a Horizontal line through it
Location: Right side of nose
Possible Origins:
1. Alchemical
2. Greek
Possible Meanings:
1. Salt
2. Theta



19. 3 lined x
Location: Left side of nose
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




20. Ribbon
Location: Left side of nose
Possible Origins:
- Greek
Possible Meanings:
- Alpha





21. Line with a hook
Location: Right cheek, low
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:





22. Centipede
Location: Right upper lip and cheek
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:

o In Dream Interpretations: May suggest that you are letting your fears and doubts hinder you from making progress and achieving your goals




23. Staff with a snake
Location: Chin, right side
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:

# 23 is also a veve (symbol for) for the voodoo Loa (spirit) Damballah. (See # 7 & 8)




24. Diamond with a line through it
Location: Chin, center
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




Attachment 2996
25. Inverted v-squiggle line with dots under it
Location: Left cheek, middle
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




26. Indistinguishable
Location: Left cheek, upper portion
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:





27. Four pointed x with dots
Location: Right hand, middle finger
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:

o Possibly the chaos symbol. There symbol for chaos is four lines in an x but normally ends in arrows. Given the limitations of tattooing on such a small space, the dots at the ends could be representative of the arrows.
Reference: http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/s...osSymbol-1.jpg


28. T
Location: Right hand,
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




29. Possible fish
Location: Right pointer finger, top knuckle
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:




30. Indistinguishable
Location: Back of right hand, close to wrist
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:



31. Chinese Character
Location: Right pinkie finger
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:



32. Chinese Character
Location: Head, right side
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:


33. Chinese Character
Location: Right temple
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:



Burning Fish (Not pictured)
Location:
Possible Origins:
Possible Meanings:

Possible interpretations include:
o Antichrist
o “Sometimes the hand is shown with a fish and burning sea on the palm, which are the alchemical symbols for mercury and sulphur – supposedly key ingredients for the Philosopher’s Stone.”
Attachment 2965
#
Location
Description
Meaning
Source
1Head, upper side, viewer's leftSkeletal Molecular SymbolCarbon?
2Head, center topVoodoo symbol/Veve of LokoFirst Houngan (priest)a, b, c
3Head, viewer's rightConcentric ringsUnknown
4Head, upper, viewers rightSkeletal Molecular SymbolUnknown
5 Head, over ear, viewers leftConcentric Hearts, possible veveUnknown
6Forehead, viewer's left, over eyeVoodoo symbol/Veve of DamballahFather, protector of humanse
7Forehead, middle"Simplified Chinese" compound wordNoun: protection
Verb: to safeguard, protect
a


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