Many of us, at one time or another, have been to a cemetery for reasons of business, to be with loved ones or perhaps on an investigation to see who may be hanging around the cemetery in the afterlife. No matter what your reasons may have been you probably had, at some point, come across some memento moiré that you recognized. Funerary art, in some form or another, has adorned the tombs of our ancestors since mankind began formal burial practices. Although great caches of gold, jewelry, food and drink may no longer be the norm for modern man, immortalizing some aspect of a loved one’s life is still very much alive in the language of burial marker symbols.

Various symbols reflective of an individual’s belief and culture have been worked into many people’s final resting place and it is these symbols, not just the names and dates on the grave marker, that tell the story of the individual’s life. Of the 125+ symbols listed here that have been commonly utilized on burial markers both past and present there is, if nothing else, one binding thread that each of these items, either by themselves or combined with another have in common – they all have a meaning, a story to tell of someone’s life.

Anchor …………………… Hope, a firm foundation, a seaman

Angels ……………………. Protection, judgment wisdom, mercy, divine love

Ankh …………................... Eternal life, peace, the journey to the heavens

Apple Tree…………………Love, Life

Arch ……………………… Victory in death, the reunion with a partner in heaven

Arrow ………………...….. A rapid ascent, mortality

Ash Tree…………………...Strength, ascent toward heaven

Beech………………………Reaching for heaven, harmony

Bell ………………………. Mourning, ringing of the bell informs of death

Birch Tree…………………Inspiration, Life

Bird………………………..Flight of the soul, freedom, spirituality

Book………………………Divine knowledge, the Book of Life

Broken Column...................Early death, grief, mourning, a noble life cut short

Broken Sword……………..Life cut short

Burning Flame……………Resurrection, eternal life

Butterfly…………………..Freedom of the soul, resurrection, immortal soul

Car / Motorcycle………….Freedom, open road of life, motor sports enthusiast

Caterpillar.………………..Rebirth, metamorphosis

Cedar Tree………………..The Holy Land, the path toward heaven

Celtic Cross………………Eternity, faith in the savior

Chain (3 links)……………The Holy Trinity, Odd Fellows (fraternity), faith, unity

Circle……………………..Eternity

Column…………………...Noble life, piety

Compass and Square……..Freemasons, righteousness, judgment

Christian Cross…………...Faith, resurrection

Crown…………………….Glory of life after death, conquering of death by the savior

Crown upon Skull..............Triumph over death

Cup / Chalice…………….The Sacrament, the blood of Christ

Cypress Tree……………..Faithfulness, hope

Decalogue Tablets………. The Old Covenant

Dolphin…………………..Salvation, resurrection, journey across the sea to heaven

Door……………………...Entrance to heaven

Dove……………………...The Holy Spirit, divine love, purity

Draped Column…………..Life cut short, mourning

Drapery / Pall…………….Mourning, Mortality

Eagle……………………..Courage, flight of the spirit to heaven, military

Evergreen Tree…………..Eternal life

Eye……………………….Sight of God, humility

Eye of Horus……………..Protection against evil, death, the moon

Eye of Ra………………...Protection against evil, life, the sun

Female Figure……………Rebirth, sorrow, grief

Finger Pointed Down…….Calling the Earth to witness at judgment

Finger Pointed Up………..Pathway to heaven, heavenly reward, departure of the soul

Fish………………………The Savior, faith, spiritual nourishment

Flag………………………Patriotism, military

Flaming Heart…………....Zeal, spiritual or religious fervor

Fleur de Leis…………….Perfection, royalty, light & life

Flowers………………….Beauty of life

Flying Bird……………....Rebirth, flight of the soul, freedom

Gargoyle…………………Protection from evil

Garland………………….Victory over death

Grim Reaper…………….Death

Gun……………………...Military service

Hands Clasped....………..Prayer, faith, farewell, unity in eternity

Harp……………………..Hope, happiness

Heart…………………….Love, devotion, joy

Helmet…………………..Strength, protection, military or civil service

Horseshoe……………….Protection from evil, good fortune

Hourglass………………..Temperance, passage of time

IHS………………………Eternity, “In His Service,” “In this sign conquer”

Isis……………………….Rebirth

Ivy………………………..Eternal life, fidelity, attachment

Lamb……………………..Innocence, resurrection, Christ’s love

Laurel Leaves…..………..Triumph, victory

Lily……………………….Purity, chastity, rebirth

Lion………………………Bravery, strength, courage

Lotus……………………..Purity, spiritual revelation

Menorah………………….Divine wisdom

Mistletoe…………………Immortality

Moon……………………..Death, rebirth, sorrow of the crucifixion, magic

Mother and Child...….…...Love, unity, protection, charity

Mountain…………………Strength, faith, ascent toward heaven

Myrtle……………………Peace, undying love

Naked Figure…...………..Truth, purity, innocence

Oak………………………Strength, endurance, faith & virtue

Obelisk…………………..Connection between heaven and earth, ascent

Olive branch……………..Peace

Orb………………………Faith

Owl………………………Wisdom, solitude

Pansy…………………….Remembrance

Pick……………………...Miner, mortality, underworld, death

Poppies…………………..Eternal rest

Pyramid………………….Spiritual ascent, enlightenment, immortality, attainment

Rainbow…………………Resurrection, union, fulfilled promise of God

Rod / Staff……………….Comfort to the bereaved

Rooster…………………..Awakening, vigilance

Rose……………………...Purity, triumphant love

Scallop Shell……………..Baptism, protection

Scarab…………………….Transcendence, resurrection, protection

Scepter……………………Fortitude, strength, power

Scythe…………………….Harvest, death

Severed Branch…………..Mortality, life cut short

Shamrock………………...Holy trinity, Irish descent

Shattered Urn…………….Old age

Sheaf of Wheat…………..Fruitful life, old age

Shepard’s Crook / Staff….Protection, charity

Skeleton………………….Life’s brevity, mortality, death

Skull……………………...Penitence, payment of final debt, transitory nature of life

Skull & Crossbones……...Crucifixion, death

Sleeping Cherub…………Innocence, eternal sleep

Spade / Shovel…………...Passage to the underworld

Star………………………Divine Guidance

Star of David…………….Protection, unity, transformation

Steps (3)…………………Faith, Hope, Charity – Stairway to Heaven

Sun Rising………………Renewed life, resurrection

Sun Shining……………..Everlasting life

Swallow…………………Motherhood, consolation

Sword, Inverted…………Relinquishment of power

Sword, Sheathed………..Temperance

Sword, Upturned………..Victory

Swords, Crossed………..Life lost in battle

Tetragrammaon…………The Hebrew letters YHVH spelling the name of God

Thistle…………………..Scottish descent, defiance

Torch……………………Fire of life, truth, wisdom, light

Tree……………………..Life, knowledge

Tree, Sprouting…………Eternal life

Tree, Stump…………….Life interrupted, life cut short

Tree, Trunk……………..Strength, brevity of life

Triangle…………………Holy Trinity, Hermetic tradition

Triscellion………………Eternity, Trinity, Unity of God, Goddess and humanity

Trumpet…………………Announcement of the resurrection, call to judgment

Urn………………………Humanity’s creation “from the dust” and return to dust

Violet……………………Humility

Weeping Willow………..Mourning, Sorrow, Grief

Wheat……………………A full life, the Body of Christ

Wildlife………………….Spirit of the wild, untamed, love of nature

Winged Face…………….The soul in flight, freedom

Winged Hourglass………The flight of time, mortality

Winged Skull……………Flight of the soul from the mortal body

Wreath…………………..Victory

Yin-Yang……………….Birth, death, and the balance and harmony therein







         
           

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