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GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS - OBJECTSanchor hope, life eternal; may signify seafaring professionanvil martyrdom,apple fruit of salvation; health & immortalityarch triumph, victory in deathark church; salvationark of Noah (rare) refuge, salvationarmor protection from evilarrow martyrdom, mortality- military or hunterarrow quiver warlikeartist palette occupation - artistbanner victory, triumph, rejoicingbasket may be simply decorative; if it is tipped, represents life's endbattle axe martyrdombed denial of deathbells call to worshipbibles resurrection through the scripture; the clergyboat a voyage; crossing over to the other sidebones death, decaybook Holy Bible found on Christian stones; Book of Mormons; knowledge; educationbooks stacked knowledgebranch severed mortalitybugles resurrection; the military profession I

buoy generally symbol of a marinercandle being snuffed time, mortality

. Icandle flame lifecandlestick Christ; devotioncannon military service, may be artillery Iceltic cross circle on it symbolizes eternitychair empty is mortality, small chair is childchalice symbol of Christian faith may represent Charity from faith, hope & charitycircle eternity or earth- 2 circles entwined is marriage; anything circular if endless, eternityclock (rare) passage of time, mortalityclouds the divine abodecoats of arms and crests lineage, statuscoffins mortalitycolumn broken sorrow; broken lifecolumns with doors heavenly entrancecompass Masons; on a family crest it represents directioncorn symbol of fertility & rebirth;crescent moom virgin

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GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS -ANIMALSanimal emblems have strong symbolic meanings -Iamb innocence, lion courage, dove purity, peaceant Christian industrybats (rare) the underworld Ibee resurrection, risen Christ; chastity, industrialness Ibird sitting bird sitting is guarding the soulbirds the soulbirds flying fligiht of the soul back to Godbutterfly resurrection; Christian metamorphosis

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chrvsalis Christian metamorphosis; resurrectioncrane symbol of vigilance, good works & loyaltydolphin salvation, bearer of souls to heavendove Ipeace; innocence, purity (7 doves-holy spirit) messenger of God carrying soul to heavendove descending holy ghostdragonfly immortality; regenerationeagle fierceness; ascension; the heavenly conveyor, militaryegg regenerationfawn innocence; child'r gravefish Christ; plentifulnessfox cruelty; cunningfrog resurrectionhart (deer) the faithful thirsting for Godhorse is generally a military symbol for the cavalryhumminqbird primarily decorativelamb Christ; Redeemer; meeknness; sacrifice; child; innocence; most common 19th century child's markerlamb with banner resurrectionlion strength; courage; royalty; power; guardian; fallen heroowl wisdom, watchfulnesspeacock immortality; eternity; resurrection; incorruptibility of the fleshpelican feeds young with own blood; redemption through Christphoenix immortality; baptismrabbit humility, gentleness, self-sacrificeram sacrificerooster the awakening from the fall from grace; repentance, waking in heavenserpent symbol of deathsheeps & goats Christians & non-believerssnake sin; Satan; fall of mansnake hooped eternity, everlasting life in heavensnake with tail in mouth eternity; unitysphinx lion represents strength and protection; used to guard entrancessquirrel Christian forethought; spiritual strivingswallow motherhood

GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS - FIGURESangel messenger betweenn God & man; guideangel flying rebirth; guardian angel Iangel trumpeting call to the resurrection Iangel weeping griefbreasts the Divine, nourishing fluid of the soul (17th century); the church; the ministry; the nourishment of the soul I

child sleeping Victorian death motifdeath's head winged mortalityeffiges the soul

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effiges crowned personal reward of righteousnesseffiges winged the flight of the soulfather time mortality, the grim reaperfour evangelists Matthew, winged man; Mark, winged lion; Luke, winged ox; John, winged eaclehand of God pointing downward mortality, sudden deathhand of God Ipointing upward the reward of the righteous; confirmation of life after deathhands devotion, prayer- a relation or partnershiphandshakes farewell to earthly existencehands clasped in death as in life, the devotion of these two is not destroyedimps figures, some winged, some not, doing funeral related tasks; mortalityman, winged St Matthew the Evangelisttrumpeters heralds of the resurrection Iwoman weeping mourning; recalls myth of Niobe, whom the gods turned to stone as she wept for her slain childrenmermaid dualism of Christ; fully God, fully mancherub baby angels, most commonly found on graves of children- divine wisdom or justiceskeleton life's brevitysleeping child Victorian symbol for death

GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS - OCCUPATIONSanchors sailorsbible ministerbooks teachercornstalk farmer ,

crossed swords served in warmortar & pestle Ipharmacist or doctorpalette & burshes artistrakes Igardenersscales legal profession; or seen witih St Michael which symbolizes his duty of weighing the souls of the departedsexton tools cemetery keeper; spade & turf cutter

GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS - PLANTS, TREES, FLOWERSalmond favor from God; Virgin birthapple sin; Evebellflower :gratitude & constancybouquets condolences, griefbuds renewal of lifecalla lily marriage, fidelity, majestic beauty_cedar strong faith, length of days; successcentury plant represents immortality; everlasting lifechrysanthemum longevity, immortality, fullness, completenesscyprus sorrow; death; eternal life, Roman symbol for mourningeaster lily modern flower symbolic of resurrectionevergreens immortalityflower brevity of earthly existence, sorrow, certain flowers may symbolize emotions, particular aspirations, attitudes, both religious & secularflower, broken premature deathfruit eternal plentygourds the coming to be and passing away of all earthly mattersIris inl ancient mythology the Iris was a messenger of the Godsivy abiding memory, friendship, fidelity- faitihfulness, immortalitylaurel victory, triumph, glory; special achievements, distinction, success,triumph of wordly accomplishmentslily of the valley purity & innocencelily, lilies resurrection, purity, innocencelotus Egyptian water lily and ornamentmorning glory beginning of new life; youth or resurrectionoak supernaturla power & strength, eternityolive peace; healing faith; forgiveness & peace. Peace, fruitfulmess, strength & victory[palm spiritual victory over death; martyrdom; reward of the righteous; peace;Ipapyrus lifeIpassion flower Christ's passion, redemption & crucifixtion[pine cone regeneration; fertility & immortalityI pomegranate immortality; resurrection; unity; nourishment of the soulIpoppy symbolic of sleep, therefore, deathl eternal sleep, rest, peace, immortalityroses condolence, sorrow; the brevity of earthly existence; of English descent -the Tudor rosesheaves of wheat time, the divine harveststrawberry righteousness; humilitythistle of Scottish descent; the inevitability of death, remembrancetree faith; life; the Tree of Lifetree ttrunk, broken Ipremature deathtree, felled mortalityvine Christian church; Christ; wine the symbolic blood of Jesus; the sacramentswheat sheaves the divine harvestwillow, weekping Igrief, death (carried at Masonic funerals); earthly sorrow, the tree of sadnessl, Nature's lamentwreath victory in death, indestructible crown worn by triumphant Christian; eternity.beauty & virtue rewarded in timewreath worn by skull victory of death over lifeIyew immortatliy