Tombstone Symbols and Their Meanings
- Anchor/Ships:
- Hope or seafaring profession
- Angel, Flying :Rebirth; resurrection
- Angel, Trumpeting :Resurrection
- Angel, Weeping :Grief & mourning
- Arches :Victory in death
- Arrow: Mortality
- Bird, Flying :Resurrection
- Bird: Eternal life
- Book: Representation of a holy book; i.e. the bible
- Bouquets/Flowers: Condolences, grief, sorrow
- Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates): Nourishment of the soul; the church
- 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
- Candle Being Snuffed: Time, mortality
- Cherub: Angelic
- Coffin: Father time, picks/shovels
- Columns and Doors: Heavenly entrance
- Corn: Ripe old age
- Cross: Emblem of faith
- Cossed swords: High-ranking military person
- Crown: Glory of life after death
- Cup or Chalice:The sacraments
- Darts: Mortality
- Dove:Innocence, gentleness, affection, purity,devotion, flying resurrection
- Drapes: Mourning; mortality
- Flame or Light: Life; resurrection
- Flower, Severed Stem: Shortened life, fragility of life
- Flying Birds: Flight of the soul
- Fruits: Eternal plenty
- Full-Bloom Rose: Prime of life
- Garland or Wreath: Victory in death
- Grim Reaper:Death personified
- Hand of God Chopping: Sudden death
- Hand, Pointing Up: Pathway to heaven; heavenly reward
- Hands, Clasped:The good-byes said at death
- Handshakes: Farewell
- Harp: Praise to the maker
- Heart:Love; love of God; abode of the soul; mortality
- Hearts: Soul in bliss or love of Christ
- Horns: The resurrection
- Hourglass W/Wings of Time: Time flying; short life
- Hourglass: Swiftness of time
- Imps: Mortality
- Ivy: Friendship and immortality
- Lamb: Innocence
- Laurel:Fame or victory
- Lily or Lily of Valley: Emblem of innocence and purity
- Lion: Courage; the lion of Judah
- Morning Glory: Beginning of life
- Oak Leaves and Acorn: Maturity, ripe old age
- Open Book/ Bible: Deceased teacher, minister, etc.
- Pall: Mortality
- Palm Branch: Signifies victory and rejoicing
- Pick: Death; mortality
- Poppy: Sleep
- Portals:Passageway to eternal journey
- Rod or Staff:Comfort for the bereaved
- Rooster: Awakening; resurrection
- Roses: Brevity of earthly existence
- Scythe: Death; the divine harvest
- Seashell:Resurrection; life everlasting; life's pilgrimage
- Severed Branch: Mortality
- Sheaf of Wheat:Ripe for harvest, divine harvest, time
- Shells: Pilgrimage of life
- Skeleton: Life's brevity
- Skull/Crossed Bones: Death
- Skull:Mortality
- Snake (Tail In Mouth): Everlasting life in heaven
- Spade: Mortality; death
- Sun Rising: Renewed life
- Sun Setting: Death
- Sun Shining: Life everlasting
- Thistle: Scottish descent
- Thistles: Remembrance
- Tombs: Mortality
- Torch Inverted: Life extinct
- Tree Sprouting: Life everlasting
- Tree Stump W/Ivy: Head of family; immortality
- Tree Stump: Life interrupted
- Tree Trunk Leaning: Short interrupted life
- Tree Trunk:Brevity of life
- Tree: Life
- Trumpeters: Heralds of the resurrection
- Urn With /Wreath or Crepe: Mourning
- Urn With Blaze: Undying friendship
- Urn: Immortality (ancient Egyptian belief that life would be restored
- Weeping Willow Tree: Mourning; grief; nature's lament
- Wheat Strands or Sheaves: The divine harvest
- Willows: Earthly sorrow
- Winged Effigies: Flight of the soul
- Winged Face: Effigy of the deceased soul; the soul in flight
- Winged Skull: Flight of the soul from mortal man
- Wreath on Skull: Victory of death over life
- Wreath:Victory
This page updated on February 1, 2009
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