The Groovy Ghoulish

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