Thursday, August 1, 2013
Captain Blood
"Rinty" Rin-Tin-Tin
Neptune Memorial Reef
Fernand Arbelot
Also known as: Pere Lachaise Cemetery
b. unknown d. unknown
This is one of my favorite places to go whenever I go to Glendale of all places...
I'm going to take a guess and say fashion designer...? Walt Disney can be included in your pilgrimage, as they are
neighbors...One time a few of us even managed to plant pumpkins in Walt's Garden. We went back a few months later, and the seeds had actually sprouted. I have have a sneaking suspicion this is why I can no longer find work as an artist in the movie industry...but we pulled the same stunt on Ricky Nelson and Darby Crash...
The Ballad of Richard Poncher (1905-1986)
Findagrave
Richard Poncher's crypt for sale?
Phony Balonies
Elsie Poncher's 1 Million Dollar Mortgage
and a simple recipe for pot roast...
Symbols on Tombstones
Below are some of the common symbols, as I find more I will add then and some photos as well.
Name - Symbol |
Meaning |
Anchor, Sextant and Crossed Staff |
An emblem that represents a mariner |
Anchor/Ships |
Hope or Seafaring profession |
Angels |
Spirituality; in ancient Babylonia angels were winged lions carved above the doorway to protect the inhabitants If the angel is flying or trumpeting, is is a sign of resurrection If the angel is a Cherub, it is a sign of innocence |
Arches |
Victory in Death |
Arrow/s |
Mortality |
Axe, Knife and Cleaver |
An emblem that represents a butcher |
Bird |
Eternal life |
Book |
Books include the Holy Bible (found on Christian headstones), the Book of Mormon (found on Mormon headstones) |
Bouquets or Flowers |
Condolences, Grief and sorrow; if the stems are broken, the person died at a very young age |
Bowl and Razor |
An emblem that represents a barber |
Broken Column |
Loss of Head of Family |
Broken Ring |
Family Circle Severed |
Buds/Rosebud |
Morning of Life or Renewal of Life |
Bugles |
Resurrection and the Military |
Butterfly |
Short-lived; Early Death, A life cut short |
Candle |
If the candle is being snuffed, it is a symbol for death |
Candle being Snuffed |
Time, mortality |
Chalice |
Sacrament; the chalice is an ancient symbol of preservation of the heart |
Cherub |
Angelic |
Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts |
Mortality |
Column |
If it is broken, it is symbolic of the loss of the head of the family If there are doors with an unbroken column, it stands for 'entrance into Heaven" |
Corn |
The person buried there lived to an old age |
Cross |
Emblem of Faith, Crosses include St Andrew's Cross (an inverted cross since St Andrew couldn't bear to be crucified the same way as Jesus), Celtic/Irish Cross (Episcopalian or Catholic priests or monks), the Crusader's Cross, Egyptian or Coptic Cross (an Ankh that symbolizes Gnostic Christians or Coptic Christians), the Greek Cross (an equal-armed cross), the Jerusalem Cross (associated with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher), the Orthodox or Eastern Cross (a regular cross), the Roman or Latin Cross, the Teutonic Cross (popular in Russia and worn by the Knights of Malta, it has two arms, and others |
Crossed Swords |
High-ranking military person |
Crown |
Achievements in Heaven |
Crown, Hammer and Anvil |
An emblem that represents a metalsmith |
Dog |
A person worthy of love |
Dove |
Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, Purity |
Drapes |
Mortality |
Face |
Usually winged, it represents the flight of the soul |
Figure |
If the figure has a dart, it is a symbol of mortality |
Flame, Light or Lamp |
Resurrection; if it is inverted, it means loss |
Flying Birds |
Flight of the Soul |
Fruit/s |
Eternal plenty |
Full-Blown Rose |
Prime of Life |
Garland or Wreath |
Symbolic of saintliness |
Garlands |
Victory in death |
Gourds or Pomegranates |
Nourishment for the soul |
Grim Reaper |
Death |
Hand of God Chopping |
Sudden Death |
Hands |
If the hand is pointed up, with the index finger pointed up, this is the Sign of Preservation, also called the Sign of Heaven and Earth, and means whatever came from Heaven must also return If the hands are clasped, it is a farewell to marriage If the hands are praying, it is a plea for eternal life If the hand is upturned and has the index and middle finger pointing up, this is called the Sign of Blessing, or the Christogram, and it brings blessings to those left behind |
Handshakes |
Farewell |
Harp |
Praise to the Maker, Praise or harmony |
Heart |
Mostly found in Catholic cemeteries, it represents Jesus dying for the sins of the world; it can also symbolize love |
Hearts |
Soul in Bliss or Love of Christ |
Hoe or Swingletree or Stalk of Corn |
An emblem that represents a farmer |
Horns |
Resurrection |
Hour Glass |
Life is gone, Swiftness of Time |
Hourglass w/Wings of Time |
Time Flying; Short Life |
Imps |
Mortality |
Ivy |
Friendship and Immortality |
Knife, Nippers, Sole Cutter and Awl |
An emblem that represents a shoemaker |
Lamb |
Marks the grave of a child, Innocence |
Laurel |
Worldly accomplishments and bravery, Fame or Victory |
Lily or Lily of Valley |
Emblem of Innocence and Purity |
Lion |
A symbol, like the angel, that guards the tomb; it can also symbolize courage |
Loom and Stretchers |
An emblem that represents a weaver |
Menorah |
The emblem of Judaism |
Morning Glory |
Beginning of Life |
Oak, Oak Leaves or Acorns |
Power, authority and victory, Maturity, Ripe Old Age |
Open Book/ Bible |
Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc |
Palm Branch |
Signifies Victory and Rejoicing |
Palm Leaves |
Happiness |
Pick |
Death |
Poppy |
Death, Sleep |
Portals |
Passageway to eternal journey |
Rake and Spade |
An emblem that represents a Gardner |
Rings |
If they are together, it is a promise of lifelong fidelity If they are broken, it means that the family has been broken up after the persons death |
Rod or Staff |
Comfort to the bereaved |
Rose/s Many different types of stone roses twine the tombs of UK cemeteries, each rose with its own hidden message. Here are just a few and their meanings. |
If it is fully bloomed, the person died the prime of life, Brevity of earthly existence.
Burgundy Rose: Simplicity and beauty China Rose: Grace or beauty ever fresh Dog Rose: Pleasure and pain Moss Rose: Melancholy Musk Rose: The capriciousness of life Provence Rose: All-consuming life White Rose: Virginity. Full of buds - Secrecy Wreath of Roses: Beauty and virtue rewarded Yellow Rose: Infidelity |
Rosemary |
Remembrance |
Sheaf of Wheat |
Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time |
Shells |
Pilgrimage of Life |
Stars & Stripes Around Eagle |
Eternal Vigilance, Liberty |
Thistle |
Remembrance; a person of Scottish decent |
Tombs |
Mortality |
Torch Inverted |
Life Extinct |
Tree |
Trees symbolize life, and include a sprouting tree (for life everlasting), a tree trunk (for the brevity of life), and a Weeping Willow tree (perpetual morning, grief and loss) |
Tree Stump w/Ivy |
Head of Family; Immortality |
Trumpeters |
Heralds of the Resurrection |
Urn |
Immortality If there is a flame in the urn, it represents undying remembrance If it is decorated with a wreath, is symbolizes mourning |
Urn with /Wreath or Crepe |
Mourning |
Urn with Blaze |
Undying Friendship |
Wedge and Level |
An emblem that represents a Mason |
Weeping Willow |
Emblem of Sorrow |
Wheat |
A good afterlife |
Willows |
Earthly Sorrow |
Winged Effigies |
Flight of the Soul |
Wreath |
Victory |