Gravestone/Markings & Symbolism:

Gravestone/Markings & Symbolism:

 

Anchor/Ships – Hope or Seafaring profession

Angel, Flying – Resurrection.

Angel, Trumpeting – Grief and Mourning.

Angel, Weeping – Rebirth; Resurrection.

Angels – Symbolize heaven and the journey from earth to heaven.

Arches - Victory in Death

Arches – (often seen with pillars) Arches symbolize the passage to heaven. The soul travels from earth to heaven

            Through the symbolic arches.

Arrows - Mortality.

Arrows - Arrows, quivers, javelins, and darts all symbolize death. This symbolism comes from the fact that the

            Colonists were always threatened by the possibility of an Indian attack.

Bird - Eternal life

Bird Flying – Resurrection

Book - Representation of a holy book

A pair of Holy Books – On Mormon (LDS) headstones indicates the Bible and Book of Mormon.

Three Holy Books – On Mormon headstones indicates the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants

                           All of which are scripture to the LDS Church.

Bouquets/Flowers – Condolences, grief, sorrow.

Broken Column – Loss Head of the family.

Broken Ring – Family Circle Severed.

Buds/Rosebud – Morning of Life or Renewal of Life

Bugles – Resurrection and the military

Butterfly - Short – lived; Early Death.

Candle being Snuffed – Time, mortality.

Candles - Candles or lights symbolize life. Sometimes these are seen with a skeleton or father time trying t

             Extinguish the light!

Cherub – The angelic

Clouds – Atmospheric veil which conceals God from his worshipers

Cocks & Peacocks – Symbolized vanity, a falling from grace, and also the awakening to repentance

Coffin Mortality – Signified the passing away of the flesh, used for its entombment and the ultimate triumph of

                        Death.

Coffins – Symbol of dying.

Columns and doors – Heaven’s entrance

Corn - Ripe old age

Cross – Emblem of Faith.

Crossed Swords – High – Ranking military person

Crown - Honors glorified souls and angels, or points to the triumph of death, when it caps a winged skill

Crowns – Is thought to symbolize righteousness and the ability of the righteous soul to move from death to

             Heaven.

Cup or Chalice – The Sacraments

Darts – Mortality

Death Head – Death was preached all the time during colonial times. The death head (also see skeleton) could

                   Be seen as cheerful, angry or sad. Sometimes with wings less frequently with

                  Scull and crossbones

Dove – Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, and Purity.

Dove, Flying – Resurrection, peace and devotion

Drape’s mourning – Mortality

Father Time – Mortality.

Flame or Light Life – Resurrection.

Flower – Fragility of life

Flower, Severed Stem – Shortened life

Flying Birds – Flight of the Soul

Fruits - Eternal plenty

Full-Blown Rose – Prime of Life.

Garlands - Victory in death.

Gourds – Coming and passing of the human life

Grapevine – Symbolizes Christ and the church.

Hand Pointing Up – Pathway to heaven; Heavenly reward

Hands, Clasped – The goodbyes said at death.

Hand of God Chopping – Sudden Death

Handshakes – Farewell

Harp – Praise to the Maker

Heart – In the Mouth of a Death’s Head – The soul emerging triumphant from death.

Hearts – Soul in Bliss or Love of Christ- The soul in heaven

Horns – The Resurrection

Hourglass - Passing of time

Hourglass, Flying – Time flies.

Hourglass w/Wings of Time – Time Flying- Short Life

Imps - Mortality

Ivy - Friendship and Immortality

Lamb - Innocence.

Laurel - Fame or Victory

Lily or Lily of Valley – Emblem of Innocence and Purity

Lion – Courage; the Lion of Judah.

Mermaids – From mythology which was a part of the Puritan’s life Sirens or mermaids were the messengers of

                Prospering and were sent to carry the souls of the dead to Hades.

Morning Glory – Beginning of Life

Oak Leaves & Acorn Maturity – Ripe Old Age

Open Book/Bible – Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc.

Palm Branch – Signifies Victory and Rejoicing.

Picks/Shovels – Mortality

Poppy - Sleep

Portals - Passageway to eternal journey

Rod or Staff – Comfort for the bereaved.

Rooster - Awakening; Resurrection

Roses - Brevity of earthly existence

Scythe - Death; The divine harvest-Symbolizes the end of life and the temporary nature of life. When seen in the

           hands of father time, it symbolizes the ending of a life.

Scallop Shell – Shells were used by the Pilgrims for many day to day items. Therefore the scallop shell is seen as

                    A humble symbol representing the crusade for life.

Seashell - Resurrection; Life everlasting; Life’s pilgrimage

Sheaf of Wheat – Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time

Shells - Pilgrimage of Life

Skull - Mortality

Skull/ Crossed Bones – Death.

Skeleton – (death head or less commonly, the whole skeleton) Death was preached constantly during colonial

                Times depending on the sculptor of the stone, the death head can be seen as cheerful, angry, or

                Sad it often has wings! The whole skeleton when seen is often shown with father time and at times

                With arrows in hand. Life’s brevity

Snake (Tail in Mouth) – Everlasting life in heaven.

Spade – Mortality; Death

Stars - Heaven

Sun Rising – Renewed life.

Sun Shining – Life everlasting.

Sun Setting – Death.

Sun - Half suns can symbolize both the beginning and the end of life. The sun is also a symbol of heaven and

        The journey to heaven.

Star – guidance for the soul

Stars & Stripes around eagle – Eternal Vigilance & Liberty

Thistles – Remembrance; Scottish descent

Tombs - Mortality

Tree – Life

Tree Sprouting – Life everlasting

Severed Branch – Mortality

Tree Stump – Life interrupted.

Tree Trunk – Brevity of life

Tree Trunk Leaning – Short interrupted life.

Tree of life – Symbolized both earthly and heavenly life and spirituality. The “weeping willow” may have also

                  Symbolized the sadness family members felt at the time of a loved ones death.

Trumpeters – Heralds of the Resurrection

Torch Inverted – Life Extinct.

Tree Stump w/Ivy – Head of Family; Immortality

Urn with Blaze – Undying Friendship

Urn with /Wreath or Crepe – Mourning.

Urns - Symbols of earthly death

Wheat Strands or Sheaves – The divine harvest.

Weeping Willow – Emblem of Sorrow.

Willows - Earthly Sorrow

Winged Effigies – Flight of the Soul

Wreath – Victory

Wreath on Skull – Victory of death over life