Does Zecora Have a Cutie Mark?

[MontagnaMagica 307]

Zeora has a really cool marking on her flank, but there is debate as to whether or not it is actually a cutie mark. Is it just a tattoo that may be a tradition thing for zebras, or is it a cutie mark that appeared when she realized her talent in life.

BONUS QUESTION: What does her "cutie mark" represent?

 

Edited April 28, 2013 by MontagnaMagica

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

Well considering her "background" seems to be of tribal areas, I'd bet it's just some sort of tribal marking as opposed to some actual symbolism to her talent/interests.

[Feather Gem 967]

I think it may be a special marking that Zebras are given at a certain time of their life.  Like in a ritual.  Like in 'Brother Bear'?  A tribal marking.  And they mean something, have something to do with the Zebra which is unknown to every pony but the Zebra who gave it to them, and the Zebra who bears it.  All Zebras have a unique one.

Edited April 28, 2013 by Feather Gem

[Sir.Flutter Hooves 2,953]

Well, I'm gonna have to say no. Since she's not a pony, she doesn't have one. I would say it's a birthmark she's had since birth.

 

But if she did have a cutie mark, it would represent her magic and voodoo powers.

 

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[Rainbow Dash Loyalty 1,275]

It certainly does look like a tribal cutie mark and all we see her do in the so is talk in rhyme and create magical potions with strange ingredients. So that must mean it's some sort of tribal cutie mark of the Everfree Forest or where she came from, it probably means her talent is in potion brewing and all that kind of witchery xP

Edited April 28, 2013 by Rainbow Dash Loyalty

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

I'd say yes, it's a cutie mark. We've never been told otherwise. Lauren Faust intended her to be a second mentor to Twilight (apparently, don't quote me on it), so it's probably also a sun, like Celestia, who is also Twilight's teacher. As for why donkeys and mules don't have cutie marks, I couldn't say.

[Righteous Fury 344]

it probably is a cutie mark, just monochrome, like her

 

doesn't make much sense to be, but it could mean anything in zebra culture really

 

the spiral reminds me of a character's eyes when Discord or Chrysalis brainwashes them, maybe the markings symbolize protection? Protection from evil/mind-altering magic, that could be a good cutie mark for Zecora.

[Mkemia Farasi 6]

I think of it to be a cutie mark, and the symbol does have meaning behind it.

 

The African Spiral Sun is a symbol of the cycle of life. It also represents luminescence, enlightenment and, not surprisingly, wisdom.

[Pastel 7,630]

I'm sure it is, but it's definitely weird since she's not a pony.

And I don't see why zebras have cutie marks whereas donkeys don't.

[pony.colin 156]

I'm going with tattoo, joining the rest of the crowd that is basing their reasoning on it being a tribal marking of some sort.   I'm not convinced that zebras would have cutie marks appearing in their adolescent lives.

 

 

Edit, actually wait, you probably should have thrown up birthmark as a tertiary option on the poll (since that would be fair game as an option as well).

Edited May 28, 2014 by pony.colin

[TheSupremeLeaderOfChaos 1,206]

I don't know about it being a cutie mark, specifically.

 

But maybe it's a symbol that means something to her tribe, like the masks on the wall.

 

If it was her cutie mark, I'd say she got it for her special potion magic stuff.

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

Maybe it's a spiral because she's good at stirring potions.

[CT-1138 3,182]

I always thought that the swirly symbol on her flank was a cutie mark. 

[Phantom Wolf 9]

I don't think it's a cutie mark, but a tribal tattoo. If it was a cutie mark, then wouldn't all equine species get a cutie mark? I've yet to see a donkey or a mule with a cutie mark, but who knows.

[Admiral Regulus 2,769]

I've researched this before, so I can shed a bit of light on this subject.

 

Yes, Zecora has a cutie mark. It's the spiral sun thing you see on her flank.

 

I first noticed the spiral sun symbol in many promotional materials related to The Lion King, such as books, comics, clip art, and the 1994 video game. (Oddly enough, however, it doesn't appear directly in any of the movies).

 

 

Yeah, like this.

 

So, today, it's an African thing, possibly of African origin, even though the symbol was used in other cultures, as well. It's obviously an African symbol as we know it, and it fits well with Zecora's character.

 

What it means is simple. Think back to The Lion King's introduction, The Circle of Life. This symbol is essentially the symbol of the circle of life, itself. The use of the spiral dates all the way back to ancient times, and it represents life, death, and rebirth. It's a universal symbol of energy and light—like the sun itself, representing the continuous cycles and interchange of day and night, life and death.  It represents harmony and balance between the two. It represents a sense of stability and tranquility in the continuous change, progress, and succession of time itself.

 

See? It fits. Zecora is basically a shaman of some sort, so that's obviously her cutie mark. It's a representation of who she is and what she does. The ancient, mystical/mysterious nature of it blends well with her role in the show.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Regulus

[LED Dasher 228]

There isn't enough information to determine whether or not Zecora has a cutie mark. The show or the comic needs to look into her background along with explaining more about her homeland. If Zebras are a type of Earth pony, then she probably has a cutie mark.

[Jeric 46,851]

I've researched this before, so I can shed a bit of light on this subject.

 

Yes, Zecora has a cutie mark. It's the spiral sun thing you see on her flank.

 

I first noticed the spiral sun symbol in many promotional materials related to The Lion King, such as books, comics, clip art, and the 1994 video game. (Oddly enough, however, it doesn't appear directly in any of the movies).

 

 

Yeah, like this.

 

 

I think the image is found in the end credits during the roll. Disney put a few of the symbols there.

 

Looks like a Cutie Mark and I believe that the Zebra's may get them the same way. I do however have a suspicion that Zecora's tribe may view the Cutie Marks as having a different purpose other than just being a representation of special talents. Maybe a connection to their ancestors?

Edited May 29, 2014 by Jeric

[TwilightDreamer 69]

You know, we don't know but some of us can assume it to be a cutie mark but it could also be a tattoo which could symbolize her unique abilities or traits that sets her apart from everypony.

[Nulln 755]

The wiki says it's NOT a cutie mark, but I don't know if they would actually know or not.

I think maybe zebras get something like a cutie mark, since they're very similar to ponies.

[Adorkable 2,737]

Did you ever think they could be the same thing?

 

In some parts of the world, members of a group will receive special markings or "tattoos" when they've reached a special age in their life.

 

Kind of how Aang got his Airbender tattoos in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

 

I personally believe that it's her cutie mark, but that's just me.

 

But think about it, maybe were she gets from, instead of magic giving her a cutie mark, she receives a tattoo?

 

That's kind of a cool theory, is it not? ^^

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Personally, I think it's a cutie mark, and that Zebras have cutie marks which are monochrome and somewhat more abstract than their Equestrian counterparts. It's in the right spot, and I think it represents her talent perfectly.

 

We're all assuming it's a sun. I think it could represent a cauldron over an open fire, with a potion swirling within. And as said above, the spiral sun (which it also resembles) is a potent African symbol. So it's meaning is twofold. Alchemic skill, and wisdom.

[Princess Lona 382]

I always thought it was a cutie mark, but if it is a tattoo, then here's my reasoning as to why she got it and why she got it in the same place as where a cutie mark would be.

If Zecora moved to Equestria from "a far away land" (as Twilight informs us in the episode where Zecora is introduced), then perhaps she wanted to try to embrace the local pony culture. She's obviously very knowledgable on cutie marks so she would have known what they are and what they represent. Perhaps she chose a design that she felt best represents her talents and had it tattooed on her flank to show any ponies she might meet that she is friendly and interested in their history and way of life.

[Everleaf 541]

I'm pretty sure it's a cutiemark

 

 

zebras are pretty much still horses so they would likely still have cutiemarks it just does not make sense of it beening a tattoo for me but we don't know for sure...

Edited May 30, 2014 by Everleaf

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

Maybe it's just a tattoo, or tribal marking of some sort? It could be a cutie mark, but we don't know if Zebras have them yet or not. 

[PegasisterJayfeather 397]

I highly doubt it's a cutie mark, since she's not a pony. As far as I know, only ponies have cutie marks... Besides, she's a zebra, and zebra's usually live in Africa. She could be African because zebras....are. Africa tended to have many tribes, it could be a tribal mark so....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always thought it was a cutie mark, but if it is a tattoo, then here's my reasoning as to why she got it and why she got it in the same place as where a cutie mark would be.
If Zecora moved to Equestria from "a far away land" (as Twilight informs us in the episode where Zecora is introduced), then perhaps she wanted to try to embrace the local pony culture. She's obviously very knowledgable on cutie marks so she would have known what they are and what they represent. Perhaps she chose a design that she felt best represents her talents and had it tattooed on her flank to show any ponies she might meet that she is friendly and interested in their history and way of life.

That actually makes a lot of sense, I like it