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From: BETH SAURER <>
Subject: [OHHURON-L] Symbols on Gravestones & Trees and Plants at Gravesites
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 17:58:21 -0700


Hi Judy, Ken, Bev, and everyone! :)

Jus' found this on another list and thought that you might enjoy
reading about symbols on gravestones and trees and plants at the
gravesite..........this is not intended to be merely an en-grave-ing
E-mail (g), but an interesting and educational one! ;)

Much love,

Beth* .....San Diego, California..... *;)

__________________________________________________________

Subject:
Symbols on Gravestones
Date:
Fri, 10 Jul 1998 18:20:59 -0400
From:
David Zimmerman <>
To:


This was sent to another list I belonged to a few months ago.
****************************************************************

SYMBOLS ON GRAVESTONES AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS

ANIMALS
Ant-Christian industry
Bats (rare)-the underworld
Bee-resurrection. risen Christ; chastity
Birds-souls
Birds, flying-flight of the soul back to God
Butterfly-resurrection; Christian metamorphosis
Chrysalis-Christian metamorphosis; resurrection
Cock-vigilance; St. Peter
Descending dove-holy ghost
Dove-peace; innocence; purity (7 doves-holy spirit); messenger of
God carrying soul to heaven
Eagle-fierceness; ascension: the heavenly conveyor, national emblem of
the
United States: the military professional, Civil War casualties
Eagle, winged-St. John, the Evangelist
Egg-regeneration
Fish-Christ; plentifulness
Fox-cruelty; cunning
Frog-resurrection
Hart-the faithful thirsting for God
Lamb-Christ; Redeemer; meekness: sacrifice; child; innocence; most
common
19th century child's marker
Lamb with banner-resurrection
Lion-strength; courage; royalty; power; guardian; fallen hero
Lion, winged-St. Mark the Evangelist
Ox, winged-St. Luke the Evangelist
Peacock-immortality; eternity; resurrection; incorruptibility of the
flesh
Pelican-feeds young with own blood; redemption through Christ
Phoenix-immortality; baptism
Ram-sacrifice
Rooster-the awakening from the fall from grace; repentance
Sheep & goats-Christians and non-believers
Serpent-symbol of death
Snake-sin; Satan; fall of man
Snake, hooped-eternity
Snake with tail in mouth-eternity; unity
Sphinx-lion represents strength and protection; used to guard entrances
Squirrel-Christian forethought; spiritual striving
Stag-same as hart

FIGURES
Angel-messenger between God & man; guide
Angel, flying-rebirth; guardian angel
Angel, trumpeting-call to the resurrection
Angel, weeping-grief
Breasts-the Divine, nourishing fluid of the soul (17th century); the
church;
the ministry; the nourishment of the soul
Child, sleeping-Victorian death motif
Death's head, winged-mortality
Effigies-the soul
Effigies, crowned-personal reward of righteousness
Effigies, winged-the flight of the soul
Father Time-mortality, the grim reaper
Four Evangelists-Matthew, winged man; Mark, winged lion; Luke, winged
ox;
John, winged eagle
Hand of God, pointing downward-mortality, sudden death
Hand of God, pointing upward-the reward of the righteous; confirmation
of
life after death
Hands-devotion, prayer
Handshakes-farewell to earthly existence
Hands clasped-in death as in life, the devotion of these two is not
destroyed
Imps-figures, some winged, some not, doing funeral related tasks;
mortality
Man, winged-St. Matthew the Evangelist
Trumpeters-heralds of the resurrection
Woman, weeping-mourning; recalls myth of Niobe, whom the gods turned to
stone as she wept for her slain children

LATIN PHRASES
Fugit hora-"hours are fleeting", "time flies"
IHS-monogram or symbol representing the Greek contraction of "Jesus":
sometimes regarded as an abbreviation of the Latin phrase meaning
"Jesus,
Savior of Men"
INRI-often seen on a banner of latin cross: "Iesus Nazarenus Rex
Iudaeorum".
Latin for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews(John 12:19-22)
Memento mori-"remember death"
Tempus erat-"time is gone"; "time has run out"
XP-Chi Rho-first two Greek letters of the word "Christ"

THINGS
Alpha & Omega-first and last letters of the Greek alphabet symbolizing
the
beginning & end of all things, see Revelation 22:13
Anchor-hope, life eternal; may signify seafaring profession
Anvil-martyrdom
Arch-triumph, victory in death
Ark-church; salvation
Ark of Noah (rare)-refuge, salvation
Armor-protection from evil
Arrow-martyrdom, mortality
Arrow, quiver of-warlike
Banner-victory; triumph
Battle-axe-martyrdom
Bells-call to worship
Bibles-resurrection through the scripture; the clergy
Book-Bible; wisdom
Books, stacked-knowledge
Branch, severed-mortality
Bugles-resurrection; the military profession
Candle being snuffed-time, mortality
Candle flame-life
Candlestick-Christ; devotion
Celtic cross-circle on it symbolizes eternity
Circle-eternity; or earth
Clock, (rare)-passage of time, mortality
Clouds-the divine abode
Coats of arms and crests-lineage, status
Coffins-mortality
Column, broken-sorrow; broken life
Columns, doors-heavenly entrance
Crescent moon-Virgin
Cross-salvation
Cross with rays of rising sun-glory
Cross with winding sheet-descent from cross
Crown-reward of faithful, victory, triumph, glory; righteousness;
resurrection
Crown on cross-sovereignty of Christ
Crozier-bishop
Cup-Eucharist
Darts-mortality, dart of death
Drapery over anything-sorrow; mourning
Field artillery (rare)-the military profession
Finger-pointing to heaven
Flame-eternity
Fleur-de-lis-Virgin; Trinity
Flyfot-swastika
Garlands-victory in death
Gate-death of departure from life; entrance to heaven
Globe, winged-disk is symbolic of Creator, wings represent 'God over
all'
Harp or lyre-heavenly music; joy; associated with David and the Psalms,
St.
Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, poets and poetry, is the emblem of
Ireland
Heart-charity; the soul in bliss, the abode of the soul; love of Christ
Heart with anchor & cross-faith, hope & charity
Horns-resurrection
Hourglass, winged-swift passage in earthly time
Incense-worship; prayer; adoration
Keys, crossed-St. Peter;
Ladder-Passion; Jacob; aspiration
Lamp-Word of God; truth; knowledge, good works
Lance-martyrdom
Muskets (rare)-military profession, a professional huntsman
Nimbus-circle or disk around arms of cross; crown of thorns; eternity
Orbs, as celestial bodies-the reward of the resurrection
Orbs, as effigies-the soul
Pallbearers-mortality
Palls-mortality
Picks and shovels-mortality
Portals-passageways to the eternal journey
Portraits-stylized likenesses of the deceased
Pyramid-symbolic of death
Rock-steadfastness of Christ; stability
Rosary-devotion to Mary
Scales-weighing of souls; justice
Scroll-the law; Scriptures
Scythe-time, the divine harvest
Shell-pilgrimage: baptism of Christ
Shell, scallop-pilgrim; pilgrim's journey; resurrection
Ship-the Church
Ships' profiles-the seafaring profession
Shrine-wisdom; knowledge
Skeletons-mortality, Death
Skull-death; sin
Skull, winged-flight of the soul from mortal man
Skulls and crossbones-mortality
Star-birth-life; Christ
Star, five pointed-Star of Bethlehem; star of Jacob; divine guidance and

protection
Star, six pointed-the Father, Creation, heavenly wisdom
Sun-God or Son
Sun, setting-death
Sun, rising-resurrection; renewed life
Suns, moons and stars-the reward of the resurrection
Sword-martyrdom; courage; warfare
Swords, crossed-high ranking military person
Three points, three leaves, three of any thing-Trinity
Tombs-mortality
Torch-zeal; enlightenment
Torch, inverted-extinction of life; death; mourning
Torch, upright-immortality, liberty, upright life, the scholastic world,

the
betrayal of Christ
Trumpet-day of judgment; resurrection
Urn-soul; mortality
Urn, draped-death, sorrow
Winged wheel-holy spirit
Yoke-burden-bearing; service; patience

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______________________________

Subject:
Trees & Plants at Graveside
Date:
Fri, 10 Jul 1998 18:20:50 -0400
From:
David Zimmerman <>
To:


This was sent to another list I belonged to a few months ago- it's a
list
of trees & and what they symbolize when left at graveside.
***********************************************
TREES AND PLANTS
Almond-favor from God; Virgin birth
Apple-sin; Eve
Bellflower-gratitude
Bouquets-condolences, grief
Buds-renewal of life
Cedar-strong faith; length of days; success
Cypress-sorrow; death; eternal life, Roman symbol for mourning
Easter lily-modern flower symbolic of resurrection
Evergreens-immortality
Flower-brevity of earthly existence, sorrow; certain flowers may
symbolize
emotions, particular aspirations, attitudes, both religious and secular
Flower, broken-premature death
Fruit-eternal plenty
Fruit and vine-Jesus Christ; the Christian church
Gourds-the coming to be and passing away of all earthly matters
Ivy-abiding memory, friendship, fidelity
Laurel-victory, triumph, glory
Lily, lilies-resurrection, purity
Lotus-Egyptian water lily and ornament
Oak-supernatural power and strength; eternity
Olive-peace; healing faith
Palm-spiritual victory over death; martyrdom; reward of the righteous;
peace; a plant whose leaves resemble a hand
Pineapple-hospitality
Pomegranate-immortality; resurrection; unity; nourishment of the soul
Poppy-symbolic of sleep, therefore, death
Roses-condolonce, sorrow; the brevity of earthly existence; of
English descent--the Tudor rose
Sheaves of wheat-time, the divine harvest
Strawberry-righteousness; humility
Thistle-of Scottish descent; the inevitability of death, remembrance
Tree-faith; life; the Tree of Life
Tree, felled-mortality
Tree trunk, broken-premature death
Vine-Christian church; Christ; wine, the symbolic blood of Jesus; the
sacraments
Wheat sheaves-the divine harvest
Willow, weeping-grief; death (carried at Masonic funerals); earthly
sorrow,
the symbolic tree of human sadness, Nature's lament
Wreath-victory in death, indestructible crown worn by triumphant
Christian; eternity
Wreath worn by skull-victory of death over life
Yew-immortality

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