Why the horned skull symbol for librarians?

[Magos Takatus]

I've been in this hobby since early 2nd edition and a thought occurred to me a few days ago. Space Marine Librarians have for as long as I've know them been encrusted with horned skull decorations. Why is this? I've gone back as far as Codex: Ultramarines to see if there is an explanation for what they represent but I can't find out what they mean.

 

Is it supposed to represent that as psychers they are mutants? Do they represent the daemons they are entrusted to fight? If so, why put your enemy on your own armour?

 

I'm curious to know whether someone has a good explanation for this pretty strange practice.

[Stickeh]

The horned skull is the universal symbol for the librarius, which is why they feature so often on the models, although why I don’t know.

[Race Bannon]

It's a shout-out to the fireball throwing wizard from Monthy Python and the Holy Grail.

 

Hidden Content

:P

[jeffersonian000]

It's a shout-out to the fireball throwing wizard from Monthy Python and the Holy Grail.

Hidden Content

:P

Quoted for Truth. Although, it’s the universal sigil of sanctified Psykers, not the Librarius. There are non-Astartes with the “wizard horns” sigil.

 

SJ

[BitsHammer]

The Exorcists actually use it as a chapter symbol, but I don't think either instance is ever really explained.

[Firepower]

They where the horned head of a demon to make themselves all the easier to find and purge.     Awfully considerate of them, to be fair.

Edited January 25, 2018 by Firepower

[Stormxlr]

Because they are Maleficarum

[Xenith]

I think it's a symbol that they know the nature of the warp and the daemonic.