Page 11 - cemetery_tour_curriculum guide

Symbols On Gravestones

The following list was compiled from several different sources. These are only a
few of many motifs found on gravestones with some of the commonly held
interpretations of their symbolism.

• Anchor/Ships—Hope or Seafaring profession.
• Angel, Flying—Rebirth; Resurrection
• Angel, Trumpeting—Resurrection
• Angel, Weeping—Grief and Mourning
• Arch—Victory in Death
• Arrow—Mortality
• Bird—Eternal life
• Bird; Flying—Resurrection
• Book—Representation of a holy book, i.e. the Bible
• Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates)—Nourishment of the soul; the church
• Bouquets/Flowers—Condolences, grief, sorrow
• Broken Column—Loss of Head of Family
• Buds/Rosebud-Morning of Life or Renewal of Life
• Bugles—Resurrection and the military
• Butterfly—short-lived; early death
• Cherub—Angelic
• Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts—Mortality
• Columns and Doors—Heavenly entrance
• Corn—ripe old age
• Cross—emblem of faith
• Crossed Swords—High ranking military person
• Crown—Glory of life after death
• Dove—purity; devotion
• Flower—fragility of life
• Fruits—eternal plenty
• Garland or Wreath—victory in death
• Hands, pointing upwards—Pathway to heaven; heavenly reward
• Hands, clasped—the goodbyes said at death
• Handshakes—farewell
• Harp—praise to the Maker
• Heart—love; love of God; abode of the soul; mortality
• Horns—the Resurrection
• Hourglass—Passing of time
• Ivy—friendship and immortality
• Lamb—innocence; using denotes child’s grave
• Oak leaves and acorn—maturity; old age
• Palm Branch—signifies victory and rejoicing
• Roses—brevity of earthly existence