Sirius Black in the Harry Potter saga appears before us in two guises: the beloved godfather of the main character and the ex-prisoner of Azkaban, who knows from his own example how dementors can deprive one of joy.
During his imprisonment in the magical prison, Padfoot did not waste time and amused himself by applying tattoos to his own body. The hero did this in those moments when he was not allowed to turn into a dog.
We decided to figure out what kind of drawings were applied to the body of Potter's godfather. They resemble Russian prison tattoos, esoteric signs and symbols indicating the hero's inner tossing. Let's take a closer look at them.
Celtic Cross
One of the most noticeable symbols on Sirius' body. In the pagan tradition, it signified the sun, the eternal cycle of life, and later became one of the symbols of Christianity. Perhaps this sign symbolized Black's hope for escape, which took place in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He dreamed of finding Peter Pettigrew and taking revenge.
Hydrocephalus Cross
If the Celtic cross is about hope, then the Hydrocephalus Cross is about self-destruction. This sign for prisoners often means a conscious choice to live a life full of pain and suffering. In Sirius' case, it could have been an echo of guilt, and his willingness to bury himself alive in Azkaban.
Amalgam
This alchemical symbol denotes an alloy of mercury with another metal. a kind of combination of two different parts into one whole. Perhaps it refers to his animagus abilities, the fusion of human and animal principles, thanks to which he was able to survive among the Dementors and not lose hope.
Salem Cross (or Baphomet Cross)
This symbol is associated with magic and rebellion. In Christianity, it symbolizes the fight against dogma. Considering that Sirius spent his entire life opposing his family and it's ideology, it is logical that he wore this symbol.
Saturn Symbol
This symbol symbolizes the weight of duty, responsibility, and perseverance. Perhaps it reflects Sirius' desire to take revenge on Pettigrew and protect Harry — a mission he put above his own life.
Prison Symbols: Serial Number 390, Crosses, and the Sun Symbol
The number 390 is clearly a reference to prison culture. The crosses could be either simple marks for counting days, or a hint at his torment in Azkaban. The sun symbol could represent hope or a reminder of what he was deprived of.
Also visible on his body is a trident: a symbol of power, primordial chaos and strength. This could be a reference to Sirius' character: he was a strong but impulsive person whose actions often led to tragedy.
These tattoos are Sirius Black's resume, his life code, encrypted on his skin. They tell a story of fall, pain, despair, but also hope. And something tells me that if he had lived longer, several more signs would have appeared on his body.
