Subj: Gravestone Symbolism Date: 10/24/1999 8:37:29 AM EST From: [email protected] (Patricia) To: [email protected] Mary, I don't remember the URL for the sight where I found these but I thought you might find them interesting. Patricia Gravestone Symbolism Anchor/Ships Hope or Seafaring profession Arches Victory in Death Arrows Mortality Bouquets/Flowers Condolences, grief, sorrow Broken Column Loss of Head of 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 Cherub Angelic Clouds Atmospheric veil which conceals God from his worshipers Coffin Mortality; signified the passing away of the flesh, used for its entombment and the ultimate triumph of death 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 Darts Mortality Dove Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, Purity Father Time Mortality Flying Birds Flight of the Soul Fruits Eternal plenty Full-Blown Rose Prime of Life Garlands Victory in death Hand of God Chopping Sudden Death Handshakes Farewell Harp Praise to the Maker Hearts Soul in Bliss or Love of Christ Horns The Resurrection Hourglass Meant a passage of time; Its use as an attribute for personified figures of Death and Father Time comes out of a long tradition of mortuary symbolism. Rarely used alone, usually appeared along with hearts, starts, leaves and sacred flowering vines; it was also the frequent companion of winged death's heads and bones 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 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 Roses Brevity of earthly existence Sheaf of Wheat Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time Shells Pilgrimage of Life Sun or rays The presence of Christ; the sun connotes resurrection Star Guidance for the soul Stars & Stripes Around eagle Eternal Vigilance, Liberty Thistles Remembrance Tombs Mortality Tree Symbolic of life or death depending on whether it was alive or felled; go back to the tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden 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 Weeping Willow Emblem of Sorrow Willows Earthly Sorrow Winged Effigies Flight of the Soul ==== ROWANROOTS Mailing List ==== Please consider joining the Rootsweb Genealogical Data Cooperative? ������ http://www.rootsweb.com/