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Alpha and Omega: Symbol of the Beginning and the End; the First And

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Alpha and Omega: Symbol of the Beginning and the End; the First And Alpha and Omega: Symbol of the beginning and the end; Eye: Masonic symbol, often found in a triangle or a the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet sunburst Anchor: Hope or eternal life, often found on the Fern: Humility and sincerity graves of sailors or Masons Figure of an elderly man with hourglass and sickle: Angel: Resurrection, agent of God, messenger Father Time Ankh: An Egyptian symbol for eternal life Finger pointing downward: Mortality, “calling earth to Anvil: Symbol for the creation of the universe; also witness” or the hand of God descending from heaven found on blacksmiths’ graves Finger pointing upward: “Gone to heaven” Apple: Symbol of salvation or of sin Fish: Christianity Arch: The passage to Heaven Flag: Often found on the graves of veterans Arrow: Symbol of martyrdom and mortality Fleur-de-lys: The Holy Trinity Artillery: Symbol of military service Flower, broken: Premature death Beehive: Symbol of faith, education and domestic Garland: Victory in death virtue, often used by Freemasons. Gate: Passage from earth to heaven Bell: Representative of religion Grapes: The Blood of Christ Bible: Often found on the gravestones of clergymen Greek Catholic Cross: Three bars symbolizing the and also of very devoted religious individuals cross on which Christ was crucified Bird: Peace, messenger of God Hammer: The power of creation Boat: Crossing over to the other side Hand holding a heart: Charity, often used by fraternal Bones/Skeleton: Death or decay organizations, the Masons and the Independent Order of Book: The book of life, knowledge Odd Fellows Book (open): Symbol of a person’s good deeds Hand shown writing: Writing names in the book of life recorded in the book of life Hands praying: Pious devotion Broken branch: Untimely or premature death, Hands reaching from above and below: God reaching often on the grave of a young person down from Heaven for the hand of the deceased Broken chain: Family loss Harp: Praise to God; a broken string on the harp Butterfly: Freedom, resurrection, metamorphosis represents a break in mortal life Chair, empty: Symbolic of the death of a child Heart: Spirit or soul Circle: Eternity, perfection, completeness Horse: Death Clasped hands: Farewell to earthly life Hourglass: Passage of time Clock: Passage of time Hourglass, winged: “Time is fleeting” Coffin: Mortality, death Hummingbird: Often found on infants’ or children’s gravestones Column: Commemoration, mortality IHS: The first three letters of Jesus’ name in the Column, broken: Life cut short Greek alphabet Corn: Rebirth, fertility Interlocking rings: Marriage Cornucopia: Symbol of a fruitful life Ivy: Friendship, fidelity Cross: Christianity Knot, tied: Marriage, unity Crown: Triumph over death Lamb with a cross or a banner: Agnus Dei, the lamb Daisy: Innocence, often found on children’s graves of God Dog: Loyalty, fidelity, watchfulness Lamb: Good Shepherd, innocence, often used for Dove: Love, purity, peace commemorating children Drapery: Mourning Lamp: Faithfulness, wisdom Eagle: Sometimes found on the gravestones of Laurel: Represents the memory of the deceased veterans of the Civil War Lily: Purity Eagle, double-headed: Symbol of the Masons, Lily of the Valley: Purity, innocence Scottish Rite Lion: Strength Egg and dart: Life and death Lion, winged: Symbol of St. Mark, one of the four Eucharist: Symbol of the body and blood of Christ, evangelists often found on the graves of priests and nuns Lotus: Creation and rebirth Lyre: Symbol of the end of life; often found on the Square and Compass: Often found on gravestones of gravestones of musicians members of the Freemasons Menorah: Divine wisdom Staff entwined by two snakes: Caduceus, sometimes seen Moon: Rebirth on the gravestones of physicians Morning Glory: Beauty, youth Star, 5-pointed: Star of Bethlehem Mortar and Pestle: Often found on the gravestones Star of David: Divine protection, symbol of Judaism of doctors or pharmacists Star, 6-pointed: Creation Oak Leaf: Longevity Star, Cross and Shepherd’s Crook: White Shrine of Owl: Wisdom, watchfulness Jerusalem, a society for women related to a Master Mason in good standing. Ox: Patience, strength Sun: Soul rising to heaven Ox, winged: Symbol of St. Luke, one of the four evangelists Sun disk, winged: Divine protection Palette and brush: Sometimes found on the Sunflower: Devotion to God gravestones of artists Sword: Martyrdom, justice, courage Palm frond or tree: Victory over death Sword, Crescent and Sphinx: Symbol of the Shriners Pitcher: Virtue and control Swords, crossed: Often seen on gravestones of Plow: Harvest, the reaping of life veterans, particularly officers Poppy: Eternal sleep Tablets, double: The Ten Commandments Portrait: A likeness of the deceased Thistle: Earthly sorrow; also found on Scottish gravestones. Rabbit: Humility, gentleness Torch: Eternity, immortality, liberty Rifle: Sometimes found on the graves of veterans Torch (inverted): Life extinguished Rooster: Vigilance, an awakening Tree, fallen: Mortality, death Rosary: Symbol of constant prayer for the deceased, usually found on Catholic gravestones Triangle with square, spade and keys: York Rite of Masonry Rose: Beauty Tulip: Love and passion Scales: Symbol of the legal profession Urn: The soul Scarab: Renewal of life Urn, draped: Traditional symbol of death, sorrow Scroll: Scriptures Veteran of the Cross – A veteran member of the Shell: Rebirth, the baptism of Christ, Christian Methodist Church pilgrimage, maritime Wheat: Symbol of the harvest Ship: Sometimes found on the graves of sailors or those who died at sea Willow tree: Sadness, mourning Shoes, empty: Loss of a child Woman crying: Mourning, sorrow Sickle: Reaping of life Woman holding or draped on a cross: Faith Skull: Death and immortality Woman holding an anchor: Hope Skull and crossbones: Death, mortality Wreath: Victory in death Skull, winged: Ascension into heaven XP, overlapped: Chi-Rho, the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ Sleeping child: Victorian symbol for death Yin yang circle: Harmony, balance, birth and death Snake wrapped on a cross: Masonic brazen serpent Snake, forming a circle: Eternal life Soldier on a horse: A soldier’s grave. Traditionally, in statuary, when a figure is seen atop a horse in memorial, there are the three meanings: two of the horses’ feet raised symbolize death in battle. One of the horse’s legs raised fully off the ground symbolizes death caused by wounds suffered in battle. If the horse is standing at rest, the deceased individual likely served in battle but died of natural causes. Maple Hill Cemetery Association Sphinx: Guardian 68 East St. Mary’s Road Hanover Township, PA 18706.
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