A-Z of Tombstone Art and Symbols This abridged chapter from the Sexton's Book of Tales, covers some of the more popular headstone symbols with explanations and graphics. The custom of erecting ornately carved headstones over graves is a surprisingly recent innovation which found fashion in the 18th century. That s not to say that older headstones do not exist, any cathedral close will belie such a grandiose claim, but the tombs you'll find there are mainly of wealthy local dignitaries or men of the cloth. Few memorials exist of more lowly beings. The general populous simply could not afford to invest in dying while living was such a trial and, with a life expectancy of a mere forty years and general illiteracy, there probably seemed little point in erecting expensive tombs with epitaphs which few could read. http://genealogy.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww tales.ndirect.co.uk%2FA_ZINDEX.HTML (URL might be 2 or 3-Lines) The task of interpreting the symbols on a tombstone is a daunting one. Though most symbols that you will see engraved on a stone DO have a textbook meaning, it is quite possible that the particular item you find engraved on the tombstone was put there simply because someone liked the look of it. Therefore, it will have no meaning beyond the taste of the deceased (if the request of what was to be on his stone was made by him), or the taste of the mourners left behind to choose the stone's appearance. The point is, many people who choose grave motifs have no idea that the ornamentation they select has meaning.. What they know is that they like the design and feel it is just somehow "right". http://genealogy.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww angelfire.com%2Fky2%2Fcemetery%2Freid.html (URL might be 2 or 3-Lines) Sally Rolls Pavia Sun City, AZ [email protected] List Owner: [email protected] "Today is tomorrow's history." All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus 2002 Sally Rolls Pavia Sun City, AZ [email protected] List Owner: [email protected] "Today is tomorrow's history." All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus 2002 . .