I received this from another list. I especially like the hint at the end -- I'll have to try it! Anyone else had success with this tombstone cleaning method? Joan > Cemetery symbols > > Cemetery symbols used by stone carvers and monument companies from the 1700s > forward included traditional religious symbols as well as symbols borrowed > from art and literature. > > > a.. ANCHOR -- identified with Saint Nicholas, patron Saint of seaman and a > Christian symbol for hope and steadfastness. > b.. ANGELS -- angels of heaven, trumpeting they accompany the soul > heavenward announcing arrival. > c.. ARROWS -- fatal arrows sent by God. > d.. BATS -- bats of the underworld. > e.. BELLS -- tolling for the dead. > f.. BIRD -- from earliest times, symbol of the soul; child's death. > g.. BROKEN COLUMNS -- death. > h.. CANDLES -- being snuffed out by death's imps. > i.. CHERIBUM -- guardians of a sacred place, servants of God; divine > wisdom or justice. > j.. COCKS -- fall from grace and resurrection. > k.. COFFIN -- coffins, skulls, pickax and spade -- tools and other objects > associated with burial, reminders of our ultimate end. > l. CROWN -- glory and righteousness. > m. COBRA -- death (an Egyptian influence). > n.. DEATH'S HEAD -- with soul effigy over mouth (early New England motif). > > o.. EYE -- divine wisdom. > p.. FATHER TIME -- old man with a beard. > q.. FLOWERS -- impermanence: CALLA LILY -- majestic beauty; DAISY -- > youth; MORNING GLORY -- resurrection; LILY -- purity, chastity, flower of Virgin > Mary; PANSY -- humility; ROSE/ROSETTE -- love; SHAMROCK -- Holy Trinity or > Ireland; THISTLE -- the fall of man. > r.. FRUIT -- fertility and abundance; GRAPES -- fertility and sacrifice. > > Hint: Did you know...that a block of Styrofoam will clean off moss > and soil debris from old tombstones and will not damage the stone? > >