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Decorations on Monumental Inscriptions

These are some motifs found on gravestones with some of the commonly held interpretations of their symbolism.

Angel, Flying- Rebirth; Resurrection

Angel, Trumpeting- Resurrection

Angel, Weeping - Grief & Mourning

Arch - Victory in Death

Arrow - Mortatlity

Bird - Eternal Life

Bird, Flying - Resurrection

Book - Representation of a holy book; i.e. the Bible

Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates) - Nourishment of the soul; the Church

Columns and Doors - Heavenly entrance

Crown - Glory of life after death

Cup or Chalice - The Sacraments

Dove - Purity; Devotion

Dove, Flying - Resurrection

Drapes - Mourning; Mortality

Flame or Light - Life; Resurrection

Flower - Fragility of Life

Flower, Severed Stem - Shortened Life

Garland or Wreath - Victory in Death

Grim Reaper - Death personified

Hand, Pointing Up - Pathway to Heaven; Heavenly Reward

Hands, Clasped - The Goodbyes said at Death

Heart - Love; Love of God; Abode of the Soul; Mortality

Hourglass - Passing of Time

Lamb - Innocence

Lion - Courage; The Lion of Judah

Pall - Mortality

Pick - Death; Mortality

Rod or Staff - Comfort for the bereaved

Rooster - Awakening; Resurrection

Scythe - Death; The Divine Harvest

Seashell - Resurrection; Life Everlasting; Life's Pilgrimage

Skull - Mortality

Skull/Crossed Bones - Death

Skeleton - Life's brevity

Snake (Tail in Mouth) - Everlasting life in Heaven

Spade - Mortality; Death

Sun Rising - Renewed Life

Sun Shining - Life Everlasting

Sun Setting - Death

Thistle - Scottish Descent

Tree - Life

Tree Sprouting - Life Everlasting

Severed Branch - Mortality

Tree Stump - Life Interrupted

Tree Trunk - Brevity of Life

Tree Trunk Leaning - Short Interrupted Life

Urn - Immortality (Ancient Egyption belief that life would be restored

in the future through the vital organs placed in the urn.)

Weeping Willow Tree - Mourning; Grief; Nature's Lament

Winged Face - Effigy of the Deceased Soul; the Soul in Flight

Winged Skull - Flight of the Soul from Mortal man

Wreath - Victory

Wreath on Skull - Victory of Death over Life

Wheat Strands or Sheaves - The Divine Harvest

Australian Family Tree Connections January 1997
who got it from "The Olive Tree Genealogy" http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/
Lorine McGinnis SCHULZE, Author and webmaster

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