ADVERTISEMENT
Tattoos are a window into the brains of the people who wear them, and although sometimes that insight is obvious, other times it’s hard to pin down
Tattoos may have significant meaning, but it’s important to remember that not all meaning is good. Some people proudly display symbols that the majority of others find repugnant. Some people’s marks are so severe that they act as a warning to others.
The mysterious three-dot tattoo, which is often linked to the Russian penal system, serves as an appropriate illustration. Tattoos of criminal symbols, such as teardrops, are common knowledge, but the three dots in a line may not.
A tattoo of three dots – Image source: Wikimedia Commons
In addition to representing secrecy and unfaltering allegiance, the three dots on a tattoo may also symbolize the severity of one’s incarceration. The three wise monkeys who “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” are said to have originated from Buddhist iconography, which is why this tattoo is often placed on the left hand. According to this reading, the dots represent a rejection of aggression and misconduct.
However, in actuality, this emblem is most often associated with Russian prisons, where it denotes prisoners convicted of grave felonies. According to popular belief, each dot stands for ten years behind bars; hence, three dots might mean that the inmate has served a thirty-year sentence.
The tattoo may also serve as a symbol of loyalty to criminal organizations, alerting others to the person’s ties to such groups.
ADVERTISEMENT
