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Headstone Symbolism

Symbols on Headstones Demystified

When choosing headstones or grave markers, we often pick design elements with little knowledge near the symbolism behind it. This glossary of cemetery symbolism will assistance you to understand the meaning of the many design elements. For those who would similar to learn more about the dissimilar symbols seen in the form of emblems, the Emblem article is very useful.

ACANTHUS LEAF	Acanthus is associated with the rocky ground were most Greek cemeteries were placed. Symbol of peace in the Garden of Eden.
A.Eastward.F.	American Expeditionary Forces
ALPHA OMEGA	Very old sign used in 2d century, beginning and last letter of alphabet (Greek), commencement and end of life.
Anchor	Early Christians used the anchor equally a bearded cross, and every bit a marker to guide the way to secret meeting places. A Christian symbol of hope, it is found as funeral symbolism in the fine art of the catacombs.  It is as well an occupational symbol in sea-faring areas or the attribute of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of the seamen, it symbolized hope and steadfastness.  An anchor with a broken concatenation stands for the cessation of life.
ANGEL	The agent of God, often pointing towards heaven; guardians of the expressionless, symbolizing spirituality.  Angels are shown in all types of poses with different symbolism. Two angels can exist named, and are identified by the objects they deport:  Michael, who bears a sword and Gabriel, who is depicted with a horn. Blowing a trumpet (or perhaps two trumpets) – representing the twenty-four hours of judgment, and Phone call to Resurrection. Conveying the departed soul- as a child in their arms, or equally a Guardian embracing the dead.  The "messengers of God" are often shown escorting the deceased to Heaven. Flying- Rebirth. Many Angels gathered together in the clouds- represents Heaven. Weeping- grief, or mourning an untimely expiry.
Arch	Victory of life; or victory of death.
ARMS OUTSTRETCHED	The plea for mercy.
ARROW	Denotes mortality.
BABY'S CHAIR	Small, empty article of furniture symbolized unfulfilled lives of children; represented the child now gone; with modest shoes on chair-connectedness to childhood, symbolized inability to achieve adulthood.
BAMBOO	The emblem of Buddha.  The seven-knotted bamboo denotes the seven degrees of initiation and invocation in Buddhism.  On Japanese memorials, symbolic of devotion and truthfulness.
BIBLE	Connotes a religious lay person or cleric.
BIRD IN FLIGHT	Flight of the soul.  The representation of the soul by a bird goes back to ancient Egypt.  Eternal life.
BOOK	Faith, learning to read and write, a scholar.  A prayer, or knowledge or even memory (where it has a dog-eared page).  It may represent the Book of Life and is often shown as a Bible. A popular form is the book as a double page spread.  Standard arabic characters place the volume every bit the Koran.
BUGLES	Resurrection; also military.
BUTTERCUP	Cheerfulness.
BUTTERFLY	The soul.  It is symbolic of the resurrection of Christ.  The significant is derived from the three stages of the life of a butterfly—the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the butterfly.  The three stages are symbols of life, expiry and resurrection. Short-life.
CALLA LILY	Symbolizes union.
CANDLE	Candles symbolize the spirit or the soul.  In Christian contexts, candles can symbolize Jesus Christ.  Catholics do of leaving called-for candles on the grave, signify prayers take been said for the deceased.
CANDLE, WITH FLAME	Eternal life.
CHAINS	Medieval thinkers sometimes held that a gilt concatenation bound the soul to the body.  Broken links on a headstone can mean the severance and subsequent release of the spirit from the body.  Chains are also the insignia of the International Club of Odd Fellows, so called considering of their dedication to giving the poor respectable burials.
Chalice	Sacraments; The chalice often appears in clan with a white circle representing the consecrated Eucharist.  The two items combine to signify the Catholic rite of Holy Communion.  The headstones of priests frequently bear these symbols.
CHERUBS	Angelic; the graves of children. Divine wisdom or justice.
CHRISMA	A cantankerous similar shape formed by a combination of ii Greek letters, chi (X) and rho (P) corresponding to the CH and R of the word, Christi, hence a symbol for Jesus Christ.
CIRCLE	The circle is pre-Christian and its original symbolic meaning has been adopted by Christianity.  It is universally known as the symbol of eternity and never-catastrophe existence.  Extremely common on gravesites, its usual representation is a cross surrounded past a circle.  Two circles, ane to a higher place the other, represent earth and sky.  3 interconnected circles represent the Holy Trinity.
CINQUEFOIL	Maternal affection, beloved daughter
CLOUDS	Veil which conceals God from His worshippers
CLOVER	The trinity, symbol of the Irish.
COFFIN, SARCOPHAGUS, CEMETERY MONUMENT	Mortality
COLUMNS	Noble Life. Broken- Early on Decease Complete- signifies that life has been completed Urn on top- a symbol of death Shroud on urn- a funerary sign meaning burying With Archway- Heavenly Entrance
CONCH SHELL	Wisdom
CHRIST, VIRGIN MARY, A SAINT, AN Angel OR THE Like	Devotion to that holy figure; want for their assist to attain heaven.
CROCUS	Youthful gladness.
Cantankerous	The ties between all religious behavior and symbolism take always been potent.  To the Christians the greatest symbolic bulletin is in the crucifix.  The crucifix or cantankerous can generate many sumbolic messages ranging from love, organized religion and goodness to terror and fear. (i.e. the Ku-Klux-Klan's apply of the burning cross).  There are many different types of Christian crosses worldwide, just simply a handful are common in N America. Botonee Cross- So named because of its modified trefoil (three-lobed) ends, represents the trinity. Calvary Cross- A Latin cross standing on 3 steps or blocks, information technology signifies organized religion, hope and love.  Dear is sometimes replaced past charity. Celtic Cantankerous- The circle around the crosspiece symbolizes eternity.  Its' origin can exist traced to the Celtic cultures of the British Isles.  There is a legend of how St. Patrick when preaching to some soon to exist converted heathens was shown a sacred continuing stone that was marked with a circle that was symbolic of the moon goddess.  Patrick fabricated the mark of a Latin cantankerous through the circumvolve and blest the rock making the first Celtic Cross. It is said to serve every bit a double symbol of eternity and unity, both that of the Son with the Father and the Holy Spirit and that of the laic with the Trinity.  That was a common theme of St. Patrick'due south preaching. Eastern Cross- Used in Orthodox (Russian/ Greek) Christian Religions, this cross' upper horizontal shoulder representing the inscription over the caput of Jesus.  The lower slanting shoulder represents the footrest of the crucified Jesus. Flueree Cross/Gothic Cantankerous-  This flowered cantankerous symbolizes the adult Christian past its more opened flared out ends. Ionic Cross-  Similar to the Celtic Cross, its' ends flare outward.  The ionic cantankerous signifies everlasting salvation, love and glory.  The circle around the crosspiece symbolizes eternity. Latin Cantankerous-  One of the oldest symbols of Christianity and the most commonly used form, information technology is as well the simplest in design.  In early times, it was called God's mark.
CROSS AND CROWN	Victory with Christ over death
Cross AND Anchor	Another early Christian symbol referring to Christ every bit "hope we take as an anchor of the soul, both sincere and steadfast" (Hebrews six:nineteen).
CROSSED SWORDS	High-ranking military person.
CROWN	Reward and glory.  Honors glorified souls and angels, or points to the triumph of death, when information technology caps a winged skull.  Sometimes juxtaposed with cross; indicates that earthly life includes suffering, and the afterlife, victory.
CYPRESS TREE	Designates hope.
DAFFODIL	Death of youth, want, art, grace, beauty, deep regard.
DAISY	Innocence of child, Jesus the Infant, youth, the Son of righteousness, gentleness, purity of idea.
D.A.R./S.A.R.	Daughters/Sons of the American Revolution
Domestic dog	Signifying the loyalty and that the master was worth loving.
DOGWOOD	Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection.
DOLPHIN	Salvation, bearer of souls to Heaven.  Portrays the idea of resurrection.
DOVE	An important symbolic animate being in Christianity representing the Holy Spirit.  The white dove is referred to in the story of baptism of Christi.  "And John bore record, maxim, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it domicile upon him." (Bible John 1:32) The descending dove is a common motif on grave memorials.  Judaism recognizes the dove as a symbol of peace.
DOORS & GATES	Passage into the afterlife; Heavenly entrance.
DRAGON	In Christianity, depicts sin and worldly pleasures, or may represent resurrection.  For the Chinese, the dragon is an keepsake of Imperial Ability, which brought the universe into its thrall.  It also stands for the Universe itself, a chaotic force which none of usa tin truly master. If being depicted by St. George, depicts triumph over sin.
DRAPERIES/Curtains	In the days when the body lay in land in the parlor, it was the custom to comprehend everything in blackness.  Draperies, with their fancy frills and tassels, are more than elaborate than a simple shroud.  They allow the expression of mourning to linger long after the body has been taken out the forepart door and the accoutrements take been stowed for the next decease in the family.  Defunction can too set the stage.  Parted, they reveal a telling excerpt.  What is important in such displays is the chief histrion or cardinal object of the stone.
DRAPERY OVER Annihilation	Sorrow, mourning.
Eagle	Suggests courage and possibly a armed services career, symbol for St. John
Center IN THE TRIANGLE	Eye of God in the Trinity, all seeing, all knowing. During the Renaissance period in Europe information technology was mutual to illustrate the Centre of God surrounded by a triangle (the Holy Trinity).  The center within the triangle, surrounded by a circumvolve and radiating rays of light is used to symbolize the holiness of the true God.
FERN	Sincerity, sorrow.
FIGS, PINEAPPLE	Prosperity, eternal life.
FISH	Indicates Faith
FLAME	Eternity
FLEUR DE LIS	Flame, passion, ardor, female parent.
F.L.T. (in iii links of a concatenation) I.O.O.F.	Friendship, Honey, and Truth.  Information technology is the symbol of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization also known every bit "The Three Link Fraternity".  This benevolent and social society originated in England in the 1700's.This organization takes cares of widows and orphans, and in general does good works.
FROG	Depicts in and worldly pleasures, or may represent resurrection.
FRUITS	Eternal plenty.
G.A.R.	Grand Army of the Commonwealth; the Spousal relationship Army during the State of war Between u.s.a..
GARLAND or WREATH	The use of garlands, wreaths and festoons dates back to ancient Greek times and information technology was adopted into the Christian religion equally a symbol of the victory of the redemption. Ancient symbol of victory, retentiveness, passed to eternal life. Ivy Wreath- symbolic of gaiety, joviality. The wreath and festoon together symbolize retentiveness. Laurel wreath- commonly associated with someone who has attained distinction in the arts, literature, athletics or the war machine. Maiden's garland- A garland of white paper or linen, embellished streamers and a single white glove, which was carried at he funerals of unmarried women of blameless reputation.  The garlands were hung in the church after the funeral and allowed to disuse.  Then the pieces would be buried in the graveyard.
GEOMETRY COMPASS	In open position, oftentimes shown over open book, with letter "G" inside angle of compass; Masonic affiliation (Freemasons; Gratis and Accepted Masons).
GRAPES	Represents Christ, claret of Christ, God's intendance or Last Supper.
GRAPES W/LEAVES	Christian religion.
GRIM REAPER	Expiry Personified
Hands	One hand- the hand of God Two hands (clasped) - holy matrimony; the person who died outset holds the other's hand, guiding the spouse to Heaven. 2 hands (praying - connote devotion. Two hands (palms facing the viewer, with the iv fingers on each hand positioned equally two sets of 2 fingers) – a Jewish symbol indicating the deceased was a Cohen, a Temple Priest.  This is the manus gesture made by Cohen at the end of services in Orthodox synagogues, its' benediction, and had come to universally stand for Cohens.
HARP	Associated with David in the Old Testament; symbol of St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. Symbolic of worship in Heaven, promise. Praise to God.
HART (MALE DEER)	Represented either faithfulness, thirsting for God, or Christ slaying Satan.
Center	Love, bloodshed, love of God, backbone and intelligence. Haemorrhage- Christ'southward suffering for our sins. Encircled with thorns- the suffering of Christ. Flaming- signifies extreme religious fervor. Pierced by a sword- the Virgin Mary, harkening to Simeon'due south prophecy to Mary at the birth of Christ, "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul."  It can also be used to represent clemency.
HOLLY	Foresight
HORSE	Courage or generosity.  An attribute of St. George, St. Martin, St. Maurice, and St. Victor, all of whom represented in Christian fine art on horseback.
HORSESHOE	Protection confronting evil
HOURGLASS	Swiftness of time; short life.  Its use associated with personified figures of Decease and Begetter Time comes out of a long tradition of mortuary symbolism. Rarely used solitary; usually appeared along with hearts, stars, leaves, and sacred flowering vines. On its side- that time has stopped for the deceased. Winged- time and its swift flight.
IHS (occasionally seen as IXC)	Signifies devotion to Jesus Christ; variously interpreted as an abbreviation for His proper name equally spelled in ancient languages, or of the Latin phrase Iesu Hominum Salvator (Jesus, mankind's Savior)
IVY	Because it stays green forever, it has long been symbolic of immortality; eternal life.  Likewise may signify friendship.
KEYS	Keys stand for spiritual knowledge or, if held in the easily of an angel or saint, the ways to enter heaven.
KNOT	The interlaced Celtic knot represents resurrection and life everlasting.
LABRYNTH	The passage of life.
LAMB	This is the most mutual brute symbol found on a child'south grave.  The use of the lamb in religious fine art pre-dates Christianity and appears to take been used first by the Egyptians.  Information technology signifies purity and innocence. Considering the lamb is a symbol of Christ: "Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (Bible, John 1:29) it appears throughout the ages with great regularity in Christian art.
LADDER	Scale of perfection
LAMP	Cognition, a dearest of learning, and the immortality of the spirit.
LILY	Innocence, purity, and resurrection.  Often associated with the Virgin Mary and resurrection and used on women'south graves.  The use of lilies at funerals symbolizes the restored innocence of the soul at death.
LILY OF THE VALLEY	Return to happiness, purity, humility
LION	Symbolizes the power of God and guards the tomb against evil spirits.  Like other guardians, the lion'southward watch is as eternal every bit the stone of which information technology is depicted.  The lion besides recalls the courage and decision of the souls which they guard, they manifest the spirit of the departed. Resurrection.

Part II

MENORAH	Vii-branched candlestick that is a Jewish symbol for divine presence of God.  The seven branches of the candlestick represent the 7 channels of the spiritual self-expression.
MERMAID	Dualism of Christ – half God, half man
MOSS	Merit.
MORNING GLORY	Resurrection, mourning, youth, farewell, brevity of life, departure, mortality; first of life.
MULBERRY	I will not survive y'all.
OAK	Forcefulness.  It is believed to have been the tree from which Jesus Christ'southward cantankerous was fabricated.  In smaller pioneer cemeteries, information technology is mutual to place children'south graves almost oak trees.  The oak tree was the tree of life in pre-Christian times.  The Druids worshipped the oak.
OLIVE BRANCH	Peace; symbol of rubber which the dove brought to Noah subsequently the alluvion
PALL, PICK, SPADE	Bloodshed
PALM	Spiritual victory, success, eternal peace, a symbol of Christ'south victory over death equally associated with Easter.
PANSY	Symbolizes remembrance and humility.
PASSION Blossom	The elements of the passion of Christ: the lacy crown-the crown of thorns; the five stamens-the five wounds; the 10 petals- the 10 faithful apostles.
PEACOCK	Symbolized the incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, dazzler of soul, immortality.
PENTAGRAM	This is a five-pointed, star-shaped figure made by extending the sides of a regular pentagon until they come across.  This figure pre-dates Christianity and was first known to be used past Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher. Later, in the Eye Ages, the pentagram was used past magicians and sorcerers.  It was believed that the pentagram offered protection confronting evil.  Christianity adopted the effigy and the symbolism to suggest the five wounds suffered by Christ on the cross.  It is interesting to note that the pentagram is used past both Christianity and Wicca (witchcraft).
P. of H.	Patrons of Husbandry/ a grange amalgamation.
Pino	Fertility, regeneration, fidelity.
PINEAPPLE	Hospitality, practiced host.
PITCHER OR EWER	Traditional Jewish symbol found on a man's gravestone, signifying a Levite, who was responsible for cleaning the easily of the Temple Priest before he performed his priestly duties.
POPPY	Peace, rest, sleep, eternal sleep, consolation.
PORTALS	Passageway to eternal journey.
PYRAMID	Eternity.  It was supposed that a pyramid-shaped tombstone prevented the devil from reclining on a grave.
RELICT	Widow
R.I.P.	Curt form for Requiescat In Pace (Rest In Peace)
ROD or STAFF	Comfort
ROOSTER	Awakening, courage, vigilance.
ROSE	Love, beauty, hope, unfailing love, associated with the Virgin Mary, the "rose without thorns."  A red rose symbolizes martyrdom and a white rose symbolizes purity and virginity. The unlike stages of a rose's bloom, is indicative of the person'due south age at time of death. Only a bud- generally a kid 12 years or under Fractional blossom- more often than not a teenager Full bloom- normally in early/mid-twenties. The deceased died in the prime of life. Rosebud, broken- life cutting short normally establish with a immature person'southward grave. Rosebuds, joining- strong bond between two people (due east.g. mother and kid who died at the same time) Rosebuds, several on same branch- secrecy Rosette- The Lord, messianic promise, promise, love. Wreath of rose- Beauty and virtue rewarded.
SCROLL	Symbol of life and fourth dimension.  Both ends rolled up signal a life that is unfolding like a scroll of uncertain length and the by and future subconscious.  Oftentimes held past a mitt representing life being recorded by angels.  The curl can also suggest honor and celebration.
SCYTHE	Expiry, the divine harvest.
SERPENT	Shown swallowing its own tail, information technology represents spiritual striving.
SHAMROCK	Ireland as state of origin.
SHELL	The use of trounce in burials is pre-Christian in practice and pre-dates even Egyptian burial practices.  Shell is symbolic of fertility, resurrection and pilgrimage.  Shell, small stones, and coins are the traditional objects left at grave sites.  There are several meanings given to this act.  Information technology may be a symbolic referral to the aboriginal custom of burying the dead nether a cairn of rocks to protect the trunk from scavenging animals, or a reminder that the individual is not forgotten. Scallop- symbol of the Crusades, pilgrim, pilgrim's journey, resurrection, life everlasting, connotes one's life journeying. A symbol of birth and resurrection, a traditional symbol of the Puritans.
Ship	The grave of a seafarer.
SICKLE	Death as the "concluding harvest".
SKULL/SKELETON	Mortality; death.
Snake in a CIRCLE	Everlasting life in Heaven.
SOLDIER on HORSEBACK	While some sources state that the following meanings are non uniformly intended past the monument craftsman, other sources state that if the horse has both front hoofs in the air, the person died in battle.  If 1 hoof is raised, the person died as a event of wounds; if the equus caballus has all four hoofs on the basis, the person died of natural causes.
SQUARE	It represents the earth and earthly existence.  Some monuments accept a cube or foursquare inverted to point the corners downward and up. This illustrates earthly being and the directions of world and heaven.
SQUIRREL w/ NUT	Religious meditation or spiritual striving.
STAR	Five-pointed star- Symbolic of the life of Christ and may too represent the five wounds of Christ. Five-pointed pentagram star-This star is drawn with i stroke of the pen. Its exact origin is unknown, and its meaning has changed throughout the ages.  The pre-Christian Celtic priests called it the witch's human foot. It is too called Solomon's Seal and was known in the Middle Ages equally the goblin'south cross.  Today the symbol is a favorite among graffiti artists and so-chosen demonology practitioners.  Like the pentagon, information technology is believed to take protective powers against evil.  In Wicca behavior, it represents protection against demons and a symbol of prophylactic.  The ancient Babylonians used the symbol as a magic amuse.  The five-pointed pentagram star represents the v senses. In Judaism, it represents the v mosaic books.  This symbol has also been adopted past Masonic organizations. The Star of David- six-pointed star or Magen David (Hebrew for shield of David), information technology is typically used equally a symbol of Judaism.  The star is actually comprised of 2 triangles.  Information technology signifies divine protection as epitomized by the alchemistic signs for burn and h2o which are an up and downward apexed triangle.  The star can be traced dorsum to ancient times, used by several Asia Minor cultures, as well as some Greek city states.  For Judaism, the Star of David came into widespread use at the get-go of the 20th century.  Theodore Hertzel, a Jewish activist, adopted the symbol in his writings promoting Palestine as a Jewish homeland.
Sunday SETTING	Decease.
Sun RISING/SHINING or w/RAYS	Renewed life; resurrection
SWASTIKA	Exact origin is unknown merely it is considered one of the oldest and widespread symbols used.  Commonly found on Buddhist memorials, it represents the body of water of the Buddha'south heart; the doctrine of the Buddha; the circular of existence.  To the Chinese, the swastika had two forms symbolizing the male and female; clock-wise and counter-clockwise.  As well used past the Romans and afterward by the Nazi party in Germany during the 2d Earth War.
SWORD	A military machine career. Broken sword- life cutting short. Crossed swords- life lost in battle.
THISTLE	Earthly sorrow, Christ's crown of thorns, Scotland as state of origin, remembrance.
TREE	The all-covering love of Christ.  Life, The Tree of Life.
TORCH	Lit or upright the torch represents life.
TORCH INVERTED	Life extinguished.
TRIANGLE/TREFOIL/ TRIQUETRA	In Christianity, the equilateral triangle is the symbol of the Trinity.  Other geometric shapes representing the Holy Trinity are the trefoil, the triquetra, the circle within the triangle, the triangle in the circle and the triquetra and circle.  To the ancient Egyptians, the triangle was an emblem of Godhead; to the Pythagoreans, it symbolized wisdom.  Another use of the triangle is in the symbol of the eye (Centre of God) surrounded by a triangle.
TRUMPETS	Victory and resurrection.
TRUMPETERS	Heralds of the resurrection.
URN	Greek symbol of mourning, the body as a vessel of the soul, originating equally repository for the ashes of the dead in ancient times – a pop symbol of mourning.
URN west/BLAZE	Undying friendship.
VESSEL w/FLAME	The eternal flame or the eternal spirit of homo.
VINE	The sacraments, God's blood, God
WEEPING WILLOW	Mourning, grief. Nature'south lament, a symbol of sorrow.
WHEAT	Resurrection, bread and wine (Christian), fertility. Convent bakers use wheat flour to make communion wafers, making it a holy plant, of sorts, fit to grace the tombstone of a priest.
WINGED FACE	Effigy of the soul of the deceased.
WINGED World	A symbol of the first Egyptian sunday god, Re.  On Victorian monuments information technology is symbolic of the power that tin recreate and, with the wings, ways, "God, Lord over all, creator."
WINGED SKULL	Flying of the soul from mortal man.
WINGED WHEEL	Symbolized the Holy Spirit.
WOMAN HANGING ONTO CROSS	Organized religion. Original drawing accompanied Rev. Toplady's hymn "Stone of Ages."  Also seen as adult female clinging to colonnade or anchor.  Mutual motif on white bronze monuments and Masonic grave memorials.
YEW TREE	Sadness, eternal life.

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