This was sent to another list I belonged to a few months ago. **************************************************************** SYMBOLS ON GRAVESTONES AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS ANIMALS Ant-Christian industry Bats (rare)-the underworld Bee-resurrection. risen Christ; chastity Birds-souls Birds, flying-flight of the soul back to God Butterfly-resurrection; Christian metamorphosis Chrysalis-Christian metamorphosis; resurrection Cock-vigilance; St. Peter Descending dove-holy ghost Dove-peace; innocence; purity (7 doves-holy spirit); messenger of God carrying soul to heaven Eagle-fierceness; ascension: the heavenly conveyor, national emblem of the United States: the military professional, Civil War casualties Eagle, winged-St. John, the Evangelist Egg-regeneration Fish-Christ; plentifulness Fox-cruelty; cunning Frog-resurrection Hart-the faithful thirsting for God Lamb-Christ; Redeemer; meekness: sacrifice; child; innocence; most common 19th century child's marker Lamb with banner-resurrection Lion-strength; courage; royalty; power; guardian; fallen hero Lion, winged-St. Mark the Evangelist Ox, winged-St. Luke the Evangelist Peacock-immortality; eternity; resurrection; incorruptibility of the flesh Pelican-feeds young with own blood; redemption through Christ Phoenix-immortality; baptism Ram-sacrifice Rooster-the awakening from the fall from grace; repentance Sheep & goats-Christians and non-believers Serpent-symbol of death Snake-sin; Satan; fall of man Snake, hooped-eternity Snake with tail in mouth-eternity; unity Sphinx-lion represents strength and protection; used to guard entrances Squirrel-Christian forethought; spiritual striving Stag-same as hart FIGURES Angel-messenger between God & man; guide Angel, flying-rebirth; guardian angel Angel, trumpeting-call to the resurrection Angel, weeping-grief Breasts-the Divine, nourishing fluid of the soul (17th century); the church; the ministry; the nourishment of the soul Child, sleeping-Victorian death motif Death's head, winged-mortality Effigies-the soul Effigies, crowned-personal reward of righteousness Effigies, winged-the flight of the soul Father Time-mortality, the grim reaper Four Evangelists-Matthew, winged man; Mark, winged lion; Luke, winged ox; John, winged eagle Hand of God, pointing downward-mortality, sudden death Hand of God, pointing upward-the reward of the righteous; confirmation of life after death Hands-devotion, prayer Handshakes-farewell to earthly existence Hands clasped-in death as in life, the devotion of these two is not destroyed Imps-figures, some winged, some not, doing funeral related tasks; mortality Man, winged-St. Matthew the Evangelist Trumpeters-heralds of the resurrection Woman, weeping-mourning; recalls myth of Niobe, whom the gods turned to stone as she wept for her slain children LATIN PHRASES Fugit hora-"hours are fleeting", "time flies" IHS-monogram or symbol representing the Greek contraction of "Jesus": sometimes regarded as an abbreviation of the Latin phrase meaning "Jesus, Savior of Men" INRI-often seen on a banner of latin cross: "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum". Latin for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews(John 12:19-22) Memento mori-"remember death" Tempus erat-"time is gone"; "time has run out" XP-Chi Rho-first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" THINGS Alpha & Omega-first and last letters of the Greek alphabet symbolizing the beginning & end of all things, see Revelation 22:13 Anchor-hope, life eternal; may signify seafaring profession Anvil-martyrdom Arch-triumph, victory in death Ark-church; salvation Ark of Noah (rare)-refuge, salvation Armor-protection from evil Arrow-martyrdom, mortality Arrow, quiver of-warlike Banner-victory; triumph Battle-axe-martyrdom Bells-call to worship Bibles-resurrection through the scripture; the clergy Book-Bible; wisdom Books, stacked-knowledge Branch, severed-mortality Bugles-resurrection; the military profession Candle being snuffed-time, mortality Candle flame-life Candlestick-Christ; devotion Celtic cross-circle on it symbolizes eternity Circle-eternity; or earth Clock, (rare)-passage of time, mortality Clouds-the divine abode Coats of arms and crests-lineage, status Coffins-mortality Column, broken-sorrow; broken life Columns, doors-heavenly entrance Crescent moon-Virgin Cross-salvation Cross with rays of rising sun-glory Cross with winding sheet-descent from cross Crown-reward of faithful, victory, triumph, glory; righteousness; resurrection Crown on cross-sovereignty of Christ Crozier-bishop Cup-Eucharist Darts-mortality, dart of death Drapery over anything-sorrow; mourning Field artillery (rare)-the military profession Finger-pointing to heaven Flame-eternity Fleur-de-lis-Virgin; Trinity Flyfot-swastika Garlands-victory in death Gate-death of departure from life; entrance to heaven Globe, winged-disk is symbolic of Creator, wings represent 'God over all' Harp or lyre-heavenly music; joy; associated with David and the Psalms, St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, poets and poetry, is the emblem of Ireland Heart-charity; the soul in bliss, the abode of the soul; love of Christ Heart with anchor & cross-faith, hope & charity Horns-resurrection Hourglass, winged-swift passage in earthly time Incense-worship; prayer; adoration Keys, crossed-St. Peter; Ladder-Passion; Jacob; aspiration Lamp-Word of God; truth; knowledge, good works Lance-martyrdom Muskets (rare)-military profession, a professional huntsman Nimbus-circle or disk around arms of cross; crown of thorns; eternity Orbs, as celestial bodies-the reward of the resurrection Orbs, as effigies-the soul Pallbearers-mortality Palls-mortality Picks and shovels-mortality Portals-passageways to the eternal journey Portraits-stylized likenesses of the deceased Pyramid-symbolic of death Rock-steadfastness of Christ; stability Rosary-devotion to Mary Scales-weighing of souls; justice Scroll-the law; Scriptures Scythe-time, the divine harvest Shell-pilgrimage: baptism of Christ Shell, scallop-pilgrim; pilgrim's journey; resurrection Ship-the Church Ships' profiles-the seafaring profession Shrine-wisdom; knowledge Skeletons-mortality, Death Skull-death; sin Skull, winged-flight of the soul from mortal man Skulls and crossbones-mortality Star-birth-life; Christ Star, five pointed-Star of Bethlehem; star of Jacob; divine guidance and protection Star, six pointed-the Father, Creation, heavenly wisdom Sun-God or Son Sun, setting-death Sun, rising-resurrection; renewed life Suns, moons and stars-the reward of the resurrection Sword-martyrdom; courage; warfare Swords, crossed-high ranking military person Three points, three leaves, three of any thing-Trinity Tombs-mortality Torch-zeal; enlightenment Torch, inverted-extinction of life; death; mourning Torch, upright-immortality, liberty, upright life, the scholastic world, the betrayal of Christ Trumpet-day of judgment; resurrection Urn-soul; mortality Urn, draped-death, sorrow Winged wheel-holy spirit Yoke-burden-bearing; service; patience ==== CEMETERY Mailing List ==== !^NavFont02F18170006NGHH_`56F8