NOTES RE GRAVEYARD SYMBOLS.
Anchor may mean a sailor;
anchor with broken chain means the cessation of life
Anchor. Anchor of Faith.
Angels mean spirituality; they guard the tomb, guide the soul, pray for the soul in purgatory.eg for Catholics to angel Michael who bears a sword and Gabriel who toots a horn
Branch cut from tree; broken column; broken chain; premature death, a shortened life.
Poppy heads; sleep.
Rose, shamrock, thistle; place of origin e.g. England, Ireland, Scotland.
Book of life; Bible
HIS; the first three letters of ‘Jesus’.
The last trumpet.
Clasped hands. Farewell handshake, this side or welcome handshake on the other side.
Hour glass. Running out of time.
The descending dove the Holy Spirit.
A hand. The hand of God.
A lamb innocence or the Lamb of God.
A dove with an olive sprig in its beak. Noah’s dove and therefore faith.
Grecian urn often shrouded or festooned with flowers = cinerary urn of the Greeks and therefore death.
Sea shell / trumpet fertility, hence of resurrection.
All seeing eye of God.
Skull with or without crossbones. Mortality.
Cross in its many forms faith / hope.
Bodiless cherub flight of the soul.
Allegorical figures, various poses = despair, loss, mourning, dejection.
Symbols of ones trade or profession.
Notes: ‘epitaph’ address from the grave – warning
Tjc sept99
See Also:-
Gilbert, :L. A Grave Look at History. Glimpses of a Vanishing Form of Folk Art. 1980. (recommended reading)
Baldock, John. The Elements of Elements of Christain Symbolism. 1991
Gazis, J. Grave Terminology.
Sagazio,C. (ed.) .Cemeteries: Our Heritage. 1992. (Victoria cemeteries)