Common Headstone Symbols and Their Meanings

COMMON HEADSTONE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

Below are some of the more common symbols often found in carvings or headstones. Other symbols on a headstone may relate to the person’s occupation, be a family coat of arms, or be a link to membership of some organisation important to them, to their ethnicity or have a special religious meaning. Fashions, even in headstones, change over time so some symbols may only now be found on older headstones. The meaning of some symbols may be regarded differently by some ethnic groups or religions.

DR JAN PENNEY GMCT Trust Member April 2016

ACANTHUS: Greek and Roman architectural decoration ANKH: (widely used to decorate Egyptian symbol of eternal life slabs) to symbolise enduring life, immortality

ARCH: ALPHA AND OMEGA: Ceremonial, triumphant First and last letter of the significance. Triumph over Greek alphabet, beginnings death,arch of sky and heaven, and ends passage to heaven

ANEMONE: ANVIL: Symbol of a brief blossoming Martyrdom, symbol of and an early death blacksmiths

ANCHOR: Hope, life eternal, ARK: steadfastness, the seafaring Church, salvation profession FLOWERSCOMMON HEADSTONE AND THEIR SYMBOLISM SYMBOLS AND IN DEATH THEIR MEANINGS

BELL: ANGEL: Church bell or religion, call The agent of God and guide to worship to heaven. Signifies divine communication and spiritual aspirations. Usually have right hand and right finger raised to heaven. Left hand often holds a scroll, the anchor of faith, trumpet of resurrection or palm fronds BIBLE: of peace Christianity

ARROW: BIRD FLYING: Mortality and martyrdom Resurrection

BOAT/SHIP: AXE: A voyage or crossing to the Signifies martial themes other side, seafaring

BED: BOOK: Eternal sleep or rest Symbol of the book of life and often can be surmounted by a crown and quill or held in the right hand of God or an angel. Can also depict learning, scholarship, prayer or trade of a writer or BEEHIVE: bookseller. Books and scrolls Domestic virtue, faith, also represent Evangelists education and human industry

2 BROKEN CHAIN: Usually situated around CHERUB: the top of a headstone to Angelic; signifies innocence symbolise the links of love with a family broken in death

BUDS: CHAINS: Renewal of life or loss of Chains bind the body to the a young soul; a child died soul, broken links denote too young severance or release

CHALICE: BUTTERFLY: Signifies the Catholic The soul, symbol of rite of Holy Communion. resurrection or a short life Within a circle denotes the consecrated Eucharist

CANDLE: CHILD SLEEPING: Stands for the spirit, the soul Victorian motif for death or life itself

CELTIC CROSS: Circles symbolise eternity, CHRYSANTHEMUM: sometimes linked with Japanese national flower Celtic origins

CIRCLE: CENOTAPH: Full circle symbolises Symbolic monument of eternal life with no ending. mourning often associated A broken circle indicates with death in war that life has ended

3 FLOWERSCOMMON HEADSTONE AND THEIR SYMBOLISM SYMBOLS AND IN DEATH THEIR MEANINGS

CLOUD: Associated with a hand from CORN: heaven. Sometimes featured Rebirth and fertility with a broken chain

CRESCENT: COAT OF ARMS: Indicates Muslim belief Lineage, status or rebirth

CROSS: COFFIN: Christianity, symbol of Christ’s redemption of Death and mortality humanity from sin, faith and belief in God

CROWN: COLUMN: Symbol of sovereignty, Free standing column honour, glory, victory symbolises the sky, God (eg. over death) and the crown and deity in general of Christ’s righteousness

COLUMN (BROKEN): Often used as asymbol of a life left unfinished when cut off by CRUCIFIX: death. Often decorated with Suffering and death in a laurel wreaths. Other forms Christian context are a tree without branches, a tree stump, and a tree trunk with an embedded axe

COMPASS/DIVIDERS: Masonic symbol together with set-square. Also DAISY: indicative of architects and Innocence of child, purity surveyors. In ecclesiastic art of thought indicates divine measuring and dividing of the world

4 DOVE WITH OLIVE BRANCH: DAWN: Signifies peace and security. Dawn of resurrection. Hope The dove returning to the ark for reunion in heaven. with an olive branch indicated that the land had reappeared after the flood

DRAGON: DEATH: A Western symbol of Often represented with a evil and the serpent. scythe, an archer, or as For Eastern people it is a skeleton or skull with the symbol of imperial crossbones power and the universe

DRAPERIES (PALL/S): DOG: Expression of mourning, Signifies loyalty, fidelity, sorrow, symbolic of the palls vigilance and watchfulness sometimes used to cover coffins in Christian funerals

EAGLE: DOORS/GATES: Fierceness, ascension, Entrance to heaven heavenly conveyor. Also an Amercian symbol

EGGS WITH DARTS: A common design for the DOGWOOD: edges of tombstones or as a frieze, symbolising Christianity, divine sacrifice, resurrection after death. resurrection The egg symbolised life and birth while the dart (arrow) depicted death

DOVE: Masonic symbol together with set-square. Also EYE OF GOD: indicative of architects and All-seeing surveyors. In ecclesiastic art indicates divine measuring and dividing of the world

5 COMMON HEADSTONE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

FERN: FRUIT: Symbol of New Zealand; lso, Eternal plenty humility and sincerity

GARLAND: Commonly made up of roses, FIGS: lilies or several flowers. Used Prosperity and eternal life as decoration or hung over crosses or surrounding urns. Victory in death

HANDS: Right hand emerging from a FISH: heavenly cloud symbolises Christianity; also plentiful, a blessing from God (Moses bounty saw the right hand of God but not his face). It often holds a broken chain, a scroll, or points to a cross or heaven. A heart in the palm means charity

FLAG: HANDS (PAIR): Veteran’s grave Two hands signify prayer and/or supplication

HANDS (CLASPED): A female hand (with lace at the wrist) is usually on the left side and a male (with cuffs and links) FLAME: is on the right signifying union, Eternity friendship and affection. Used as a sign of farewell, love and friendship not severed by death. A ribbon may join them

FLEUR DE LIS: HARP/LYRE: Symbolises life or the Praise to God, harmony; Trinity. It may represent sometimes signifies Irish conventionalised three connections. Symbol of white lilies or white irises; St Cecelia, patron saint of sometimes incorporated musicians. Broken string into geometric designs indicates a break in mortal life

6 HEART: A symbol of charity or the Sacred Heart of Christ or with LAMB: flames as the Divine Heart. It Innocence; marks the grave can be pierced, held in hands, of a child or the sacrificial crowned or appear with a lamb of God cross. Two hearts together can symbolise love in marriage.

HOLLY: LAMP: Foresight; people believed A light source and associated holly protecte tombs from with knowledge, wisdom and lightning faithfulness

HOURGLASS: Symbolic of time and life LAUREL: running out, quickly reaching Signifies victory, or heroism its end and this can be and achievement in arts. emphasised by giving the Usually presented in the form hourglass wings. Time can of laurel wreaths. Evergreen also be represented by a memory of deceased scythe, clock or sundial.

LETTERS (XP OR PX): The letters XP, or Chi-Rho, are the first two Greek letters IVY: in the name `Christos’ and Friendship and immortality refer to being buried under Christ. Today the letters may be reversed as PX to represent `pax’ or `peace’

LETTERS (AO): KEYS: AO or Alpha and Omega refer to the beginning and the end Spiritual knowledge and are often shown with the book of life

KNOT: Interlaced Celtic knot LETTER (IHS): indicates resurrection and First three letters in the life everlasting. Tied knot Greek spelling of Jesus indicates marriage and unity

7 COMMON HEADSTONE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

LYCH GATE: LETTERS (T): Churchyard gate below The Greek T, or tau, is which the deceased can the initial of Theos (God), rest awhile before burial. and is also the Egyptian Sometimes shown in hieroglyphic for life miniature surmounting crosses

LETTERS (TNZBH): MARIGOLD: Hebrew symbol for ’may Associated with the Day of their soul be bound up in the Dead and leads the souls the bond of eternal life’ to the home altar

LILY/LILY OF THE VALLEY: MENORAH: Chastity, innocence and purity Emblem of Judaism

LIGHT HOUSE: MISTLETOE: A beacon indicative of a Sacred plant and symbol safe haven of immortality

LION: MYRTLE LEAF: Power of God or guardian of Undying love and peace the tomb. Watchfulness and strength

NUMBERS: Three, the Trinity; beginning, middle and end; the three graces and the three fates. Seven (perfection), the world LOTUS: was created in seven days; Creation and rebirth the seven ages of man; and the seven pillars of wisdom. Three-leafed shamrock and seven-petalled flowers

8 OAK TREE: Hospitality, stability, OX: strength, honour, eternity, Patience, strength endurance, power, victory

OBELISK: PALM: Symbol of eternal life, Spiritual victory over death, fertility, regeneration success, eternal peace and resurrection

PASSION FLOWER: OBELISK (BROKEN): Symbol of Christ’s passion, Symbolises life being sacrifice, suffering and cut short redemption

OLIVE BRANCH: Associated with the return of the dove to PINEAPPLE: Noah’s ark representing Hospitality peace and security; peace and healing faith

ORB: PITCHER: Celestial body and reward of Jewish symbol resurrection

OWL: PLOW: Wisdom, watchfulness Harvest, the reaping of a life

9 COMMON HEADSTONE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

POMEGRANATE: ROD OR STAFF: Immortality, unity, Comfort for the bereaved nourishment of the soul

POPPY: Eternal sleep; sometimes ROOSTER: associated with war-related Vigilance and wakefulness death

ROSARY: PYRAMID: Catholic symbol, devotion to Chastity, innocence and purity Mary, Mother of God

RAINBOW: ROSE: Union or fulfilment of the Love, beauty, hope, promise of resurrection unfailing love

RABBIT: TWO ROSES: Humility, gentleness and Two roses signify a couple self-sacrifice

RING: Similar to a circle indicating ROSEMARY: completeness and perfection. Remembrance Marriage

10 SPIRAL: SCALES: Symbol of movement and progressive development; Weighing of souls, justice, often appears as an legal profession ascending spiral around a column

SCROLL: Symbol of life and time. Both ends rolled up indicate a life that is unfolding like a scroll SPIRE: of uncertain length and the Religious aspiration past and future hidden. Often held by a hand representing life being recorded by angels.

STAR: SCYTHE (SICKLE): Light of the spirit which is not Signifies time and death; overpowered by death, divine indicates life cut off guidance

SERPENT: An ancient Celtic symbol for eternity; may be depicted as STAR OF DAVID: being trampled as a triumph Symbol of Judaism over sin and death or may be depicted with its tail in its mouth

SHAMROCK: SUN: Symbol of Ireland (Eire). Symbol of light and warmth, Commonly used on Irish life everlasting, soul rising to Catholic monuments and heaven. Setting sun=death, incorporated into the design rising sun=resurrectionl of some crosses

SUNFLOWER: SHELL: Symbolic of gratitude and Pilgrimage, journey, affectionate remembrance. resurrection, baptism The flower turns towards the or rebirth sun, indicating brightness

11 COMMON HEADSTONE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

SWALLOW: THREE: Immortality, unity, Three of anything indicates nourishment of the soul the Trinity

TREE: Life or human fragility. SWORDS: The most commonly depicted trees are weeping willows Martyrdom, courage, warfare for mourning; oaks for life and steadfastness; and palms for peace.

SWORDS CROSSED: TREE BOLE: Military person of high rank Bole cut off signifies life’s end

THISTLE: Symbolic of Scotland. Often TRIANGLE: appears with the cross of Symbol of the Trinity St Andrew. Earthly sorrow and remembrance

TRUMPET: TORCH: Judgement day and entry into Zeal, enlightenment heaven;the trumpeter is the herald of the resurrection

TORCH INVERTED: TULIP: Inverted indicates extinction Love and passion of life

12 URN: Signifies death and WHEAT: mourning. Popular in Represents bread, or the late Victorian period in a Body of Christ. Bread was vase form and earlier in a also said to be the Staff of gravy-boat form. Symbolic Life or the divine harvest of Roman cremation urns depicting remembrance.

WHEEL: VACANT CHAIR: Usually broken; a break in Death of a child the circle of life

VASE: WILLOW: Widely used in ancient burial The weeping willow signifies and memorial art. Signifies sadness, perpetual mourning death and mourning and death

WREATH: VIOLET: Common symbol of mourning Humility and respect. Also represents martyrdom

DR JAN PENNEY BA, DIP ED, PHD Jan is an historian with an interest in Aboriginal history, local history and the Murray River Region. Between 1998 and 2012 Jan was the Executive Chair of Mint Inc. and for several years has lectured at the tertiary level, including the Master of Public History course at Monash University. Jan was formerly CEO of the Goldfields Library Corporation, Bendigo and Director - Museums at Sovereign Hill Museums, Ballarat. She was also Chair of the Heritage Council of Victoria, taking a special interest in the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings and archaeological sites as tourism components. Jan was appointed to The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust in 2010 and is a current Trust member.

13 COMMON HEADSTONE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

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