Skulls? Why all the Skulls!?

[FateWeaver]

Alright, I need answers and I am sure there is a lore buff around here who can provide them.
Why is the imperial city so rife with carved skulls embedded in all the architecture? In the tavern for example the place is overflowing with skull artwork, not exactly what you picture in a place where you are supposed to be merry and have a drink and have a laugh with your fellow citizens...
Not to mention the actual real human skulls, where is the respect for the dead!? They are placed around like decorations, in the Horn of Magnus level there is a mailbox-like structure with skulls piled up inside for example, right there on what is supposed to be a busy street!
Is there a cultural reason for it all that makes sense? Or is it all in the name of Games Workshop and Fatshark's artistic freedom to do pretty much whatever the Hell they want in order to turn everything as grimdark as they can get away with? I am honestly clueless and would much appreciate an answer.

[FateWeaver]

That would be the twin tailed comet I think, you can see it over the fireplace in the tavern.

[Null]

if u rly interested look up Lexicanum. Should find all answers u need there.

[Brother Frank]

This was asked before - it's a religious symbol for the Empire.

[Harukage]

Skull have many meanings in both Warhammers. It a symbol of Death obviously with a context of purity in death, honour in death, duty in death, also dealing death to the enemies, and all that kind of thing. Therefore skulls are often used in iconography, heraldy and architexture motives. Skull is also the symboll of Morr, the god of afterlife in the Empire, the shepher of souls, the enemy of all necromantic.

[Disodium]

This may be why..
"Well the Empire use skull motif's because it symbolises their reverence and fear of the God Morr (The god of death and the afterlife). Many believe that they will be protected from death and the horrors of chaos if they display such symbols. Artillery crews especially favour such symbols. And besides the Empire is basically the only "good" faction that uses Skulls in their heraldry."

source: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?423068-do-you-think-that-skulls-are-too-over-used-in-WH&s=d3185299118c52eaacb5b3ff8f6024d3&p=8906169&viewfull=1#post8906169

[Auto-Hellion]

The skull mailbox is right in front of the church, probably the skulls of the faithful. Saltzpyre as a witch hunter would have heratics skulls and other sundry items in his possesion. Also one of the gods Morr has the symbol of the grinning skull. Other than that Life is cheap in the old world so the skulls probably serve as a reminder to venerate Sigmar. Thats what i think at least.

[Wurli Monkhaven]

I believe (but don't quote me on this because I'm not a Warhammer buff) it's the symbol of Sigmar, the god of the humans.

[FateWeaver]

Originally posted by Brother Frank:

This was asked before - it's a religious symbol for the Empire.

If it was asked before then I am failing to find the thread, and I did search for it before I wrote.

[Harukage]

Symbols of Sigmar are warhammer and twin-tailed comet, not a skull.

[Bakimono]

I would like to say I love that this game is bringing in a whole new crowd to warhammer that has (obviously) never heard of it or at least never payed any attention.

The skulls are relevant for multiple reasons; and there's a few decade's worth of published lore that explains it; and people have given some good answers already as well.

[Brother Frank]

I've loved Warhanmer for years and it has always made me so sad that nobody knew what I was talking about. I too, am glad to see all the new guys curious about Warhammer.

[Bakimono]

GW has certianly dialed up the grimdark, but the symbolism has always been there (they just turned it to 11)

[Brother Frank]

Well, they've got to do something to increase interest after Age of Sigmar.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_-MzNpMD1K8

[FateWeaver]

Originally posted by Cthulhu:

I would like to say I love that this game is bringing in a whole new crowd to warhammer that has (obviously) never heard of it or at least never payed any attention.

The skulls are relevant for multiple reasons; and there's a few decade's worth of published lore that explains it; and people have given some good answers already as well.

Well I have been what you might call a casual Warhammer fan since I was maybe 7 years old, but was mostly exposed to Warhammer 40K, but Vermintide and the new Total War game has made me interested in learning about Warhammer fantasy as well. I don't own any codex for it or such and I understand the universe has had the plug pulled on it sadly... Guess I was a bit late to the party.

But as I said, I did a quick forum search here on the game's forum, I didn't turn up any previous posts and seeing how I failed to turn up anything was it really such a crime for me to ask these questions again?

[Brother Frank]

Hm? Not at all. I love just talking about Warhammer.