Ace of diamonds - this concept came to us from the world of card games. Diamonds is a suit depicted as a red rhombus. Ace - a playing card of higher or lower value (depending on the rules of the game). In certain social groups, the ace of diamonds has its own specific meaning.
Ace of diamonds on the back. Significance in prison
You can hear about this symbol in Mikhail Krug's song "Golden Domes". There are the following lines: "There was an ace of diamonds on the back, but the ace of the cross stood at the feet." So what does this ace of diamonds mean? Previously, during the time of tsarist hard labor, a patch in the form of a rhombus was sewn onto the back of the robes of prisoners. This was done to make it easier to aim at the prisoner in case of escape.
There were certain requirements for the ace of diamonds on the back with the meaning described above. Firstly, the patch to be sewn had to be different in color from the entire robe. At the Sakhalin penal servitude, it was first yellow (the color of the Cossacks from the Amur River), and then such a stripe becamemake black. In addition to the ace of diamonds on the back, the meaning of a convict was also carried by a half-shaven head and burnt letters on the prisoner's forehead ("KAT" - "convict", "convict"). Later, of course, branding was abandoned, only a patch and a shaved head remained.
Alternative meanings
The ace of diamonds on the back has several meanings. Even in prison culture, this sign has several meanings. The ace of diamonds tattoo was used to mark card cheats of the highest level. Also, the ace of diamonds patch was used to mark those prisoners who were sent to a special regime colony for the most cruel recidivist criminals, including those under articles that imply capital punishment.
If tomorrow he has an ace of diamonds on his back We will see … "), Alexander Blok ("12": "On the back you need an ace of diamonds"). Blok has a special meaning of the ace of diamonds on his back. The poem "12" is filled with many hidden symbols. So, the "ace of diamonds" as a sign of a convict emphasizes the robbery in the heroes. It turns out that revolutionaries are still destroyers (of the old system) and robbers. It's not just that the sky above them is black, but in front of them is darkness.
Own interpretation of the cardaces are also given in the Christian religion. In a religious sense, the ace of spades is the spear that pierced Jesus Christ, the cross means the cross on which he was crucified, the ace of diamonds is the nails driven into the hands and feet, and, finally, the ace of hearts means a sponge soaked in vinegar, which moistened the lips of the crucified.
The value of aces with different suits today
Of course, now no one sews a rhombus on the clothes of prisoners. However, tattoos of card aces are still stuffed in prisons, and each of them has its own specific meaning.
- The ace of diamonds indicates that the owner of such a tattoo is a highly skilled card swindler.
- The ace of clubs indicates the kingpin.
- The ace of spades is a sign of a crime boss.
- Ace of hearts - such a tattoo, most likely, was made by force. This is how they mark prisoners who were persuaded to have same-sex intimate relationships.
