Symbols
A - L
| Acanthus | Heavenly Gardens |
| Almond | 1) Favor from God 2) Virgin Birth |
| Alpha & Omega | Beginning & End of All Things |
| Anchor/Ships | 1) Hope 2) “at rest” 3) An early Christian symbol 4) may signify mariner or seafaring profession 5) life eternal |
| Angel | 1) Agent of God 2) Guardian of the Dead 3) Guide/Messenger between God & Man 4) Protection 5) Guardian Angel 6) Wisdom 7) Mercy 8) Divine Love 9) Spirituality 10) Heaven 11) Journey from Earth to Heaven |
| Angel - Flying | Rebirth/Resurrection |
| Angel - Trumpeting | Call to the Resurrection |
| Angel - Weeping | Grief |
| Ankh | 1) Eternal life 2) Peace 3) Truth. |
| Ant | Christian Industry |
| Anvil | Martyrdom |
| Apple | 1) Sin 2) Eve |
| Arch | 1) Victory in Death 2) Being Rejoined With Partner in Heaven 3) Passage to Heaven 4) Triumphant entry |
| Ark of Noah | 1) Refuge 2) Salvation |
| Ark | 1) Church 2) Salvation |
| Armor | Protection From Evil |
| Arrow | 1) Mortality 2) Martyrdom 3) Mortality |
| Arrow Quiver | Warlike |
| Axe, Steel knife and Cleaver. | Butcher |
| Banner | 1) Victory 2) Triumph |
| Barber Bowl & Razor. | Barber |
| Bats | The Underworld |
| Battle-axe | Martyrdom |
| Bed | Deathbed (Sometimes only a pillow.) |
| Bee | 1) Resurrection 2) Risen Christ 3) Chastity |
| Beehive | 1) Domestic Virtues 2)Education 3) Faith 4) Abundance in the Promised Land 5) Piety |
| Bell | Mourning |
| Bells | Call to Worship |
| Bellflower | Gratitude |
| Bible (one) | Often Found on Christian Stones |
| Bibles | 1) Resurrection Through the Scripture 2) The Clergy |
| Bird(s) | 1)
Eternal Life 2) Winged Soul 3) Spirituality |
| Bird(s) - Flying | 1) Eternal Life 2) Resurrection 3) Flight of the Soul Back to God 4) Rebirth |
| Bones | Death and Decay |
| Book | 1) The Divine Word 2) Resurrection Through the Scriptures 3) One's Accomplishments Recorded in the Book of Life 4) Bible 5) Wisdom |
| Book w/ cross | Faith |
| Books stacked | Knowledge |
| Bouquet | 1) Condolences 2) Grief 3) Sorrow 4) The Shortness of Life |
| Branch, severed | Mortality |
| Breasts | 1) The Divine 2) Nourishing Fluid/Nourishment of the Soul 3) The church/ministry |
| Broken Column | 1) Decay 2) Early Death 3) Grief 4) Loss of the Family Head |
| Draped column | 1) Early Death 2) Grief |
| Broken Ring | Family Circle Severed |
| Bud | 1) Renewal of Life 2) Young Soul |
| Bud, broken or cut | Often Used on a Child's Grave |
| Bud/Rosebud | Morning/Renewal of life |
| Bugles | 1) Resurrection 2) Military |
| Burning Flame | 1) Life 2) Resurrection. |
| Butterfly | 1) Short-Lived 2) Early Death 3) Resurrection 4) Christian Metamorphosis |
| Calla Lily | 1) Majestic Beauty 2) Marriage. |
| Candle being Snuffed | 1) Time 2) Mortality 3) Loss of Life |
| Candle (or Candle flame) | Life |
| Candlestick | 1) Christ 2) Devotion |
| Caterpillar | 1) Life 2) Metamorphosis. |
| Cedar | 1) Strong Faith 2) Length of Days 3) Success |
| Celtic Cross (sometimes w/ a circle on it) | 1) Faith 2) Eternity |
| Chain w/ Three Links | 1) Trinity 2) Faith 3) Odd Fellows |
| Chalice | Sacraments |
| Cherub | 1) Angelic 2) Innocence |
| Chi Rho and Alpha Omega | Christ as the "Beginning and the End." |
| Child - Sleeping | Victorian death motif |
| Chrysalis | 1) Christian Metamorphosis 2) Resurrection |
| Circle | 1) Eternity 2) Life Never-Ending 3) Earth |
| Clock | 1) Passage of Time 2) Mortality |
| Clouds | 1) Divine Abode/Heaven 2) Vehicle of Christ |
| Coats of Arms/Crests | 1) Lineage 2) Status |
| Cock(s) | 1)
Vigilance 2) St. Peter 3) Awakening to Resurrection 4) |
| Cocks & Peacocks | 1) Vanity 2) Falling From Grace 3) Awakening to Repentence |
| Coffin | 1) Mortality 2) Symbol of Dying |
| Column | 1) Noble life 2) Mortality |
| Column - Draped | Mourning of the Passage of Life |
| Column - Broken | 1) Sorrow 2) Broken Life 3) Mortality |
| Columns - w/ doors | Heavenly Entrance |
| Conch Shell | 1) Wisdom 2) Reincarnation |
| Corn | Ripe Old Age |
| Coulter (type of hoe) | Farmer |
| Crescent | Indicates Deceased was Likely Muslim |
| Crescent Moon | Virgin |
| Cross | 1) Emblem of faith 2) Faith 3) Resurrection 4) Resurrection 5) Salvation |
| Cross - w/ Rays of Rising Sun | Glory |
| Cross - w/ Winding Sheet | Descent From Cross |
| Crossed Swords | High-Ranking Military Person |
| Crown | 1) Soul's Achievement 2) Glory of Life After Death 3) Reward of Faithful 4) Victory 5) Triumph 6) Glory 7) Righteousness 8) Resurrection |
| Crown - on Cross | Sovereignty of Christ |
| Crown - on Skull | Triumph of death |
| Crown - w/ Hammer & Anvil | Deceased Smith |
| Crozier | Bishop |
| Cultivated Rose | 1) Everlasting Love 2) Person was Born in the Month of June |
| Cup or Chalice | 1) Sacrament 2) Eucharist |
| Cypress | 1) Hope 2) Sorrow 3) Death 4) Eternal Life 5) Roman Symbol for Mourning |
| Darts | 1) Mortality 2) Dart of Death |
| Dart - w/ Figure | Mortality |
| Death's Head - Winged | Mortality |
| Dog | Good Master Worthy of Love |
| Dolphin | 1) Resurrection 2) Salvation 3) Bearer of Souls Across Water to Heaven |
| Door | Entrance to heaven |
| Dove | 1) Innocence 2) Gentleness 3) Affection 4) Purity 5) Love 6) Resurrection 7) the Holy Spirit 8) Peace 9) Devotion 10)Hope 11) Mourning |
| Dove - Ascending | Messenger of God Carrying Soul to Heaven |
| Dove - Descending | Holy Ghost |
| Dove - Flying | Resurrection. |
| Dove - w/ Olive Branch in Beak | Hope and Deliverance |
| Drapery/Pall | 1) Mourning 2) Mortality 3) Sorrow |
| Eagle | 1) Courage 2) Faith 3) Generosity 4) Contemplation 5) Military 6) Fierceness 7) Ascension 8) Heavenly Conveyor 9) National Emblem of the U.S.A. 10) Military Professional 11) Civil War Casualties |
| Eagle - Winged | St. John, the Evangelist |
| Easter Lily | Resurrection |
| Effigies | The Soul |
| Effigies - Crowned | Personal Reward of Righteousness |
| Effigies - Winged | Flight of the Soul |
| Egg | Regeneration |
| Evergreens | Immortality |
| Eye | Humility |
| Eye of Ra/Horus | 1) Sun/Moon 2) Life/Death 3) Protection Against Evil |
| Father Time | 1) Mortality 2) The Grim Reaper |
| Female Figure | 1) Sorrow 2) Grief |
| Field Artillery | Military Profession |
| Finger Pointing - Downward | Calling the Earth to Witness |
| Finger Pointing Upward | 1) Pathway to Heaven 2) Heavenly Reward |
| Fish | 1) Faith 2) Life 3) Spiritual Nourishment 4) Christian Symbol of Plenty 5) Christ |
| Flag | 1) Military 2) Patriotism |
| Flail (threshing implement) | Farmer |
| Flame | 1) Immortality of the Spirit 2) Resurrection 3) Eternity |
| Fleur de Lys | 1) Perfection 2) Light 3) Life 4) Royalty 5) Virgin 6) Trinity |
| Flower(s) | 1)
Life's Frailty 2) Immortality 3) Brevity of earthly existence 4) Sorrow |
| Flower - Broken | Premature Death |
| Tree - Flowering Dogwood | 1) Christianity 2) Divine Sacrifice 3) Triumph of Eternal Life |
| Tree - Flowering Laurel | 1) Atonement 2) Glory 3) Reward 4) Victory |
| Flyfot | Swastika |
| Four Evangelists | Matthew, winged man; Mark, winged lion; Luke, winged ox; John, winged eagle |
| Fox | 1) Cruelty 2) Cunning |
| Frog | 1) Worldly pleasure 2) Sin 3) Resurrection |
| Fruit | Eternal Plenty |
| Fruit and vine | 1) Jesus Christ 2) The Christian Church |
| Garland/Wreath | 1) Saintliness 2) Glory 3) Victory in Death |
| Garland/Wreath - Flowers | Shortness of Life |
| Gates | Entry into Heaven. |
| Gourds | The Coming To Be and Passing Away of All Earthly Matters |
| Grape (aka True Vine) | 1) "Our Lord" 2) Christian Church |
| Grim Reaper | 1) Inevitability of Death 2) Death Personified |
| Gun | Military Service |
| Hair - Flowing | Penitence |
| Hand of God Chopping/Pointing Downward | 1) Mortality 2) Sudden Death |
| Hand of God Pointing Upward | 1) The Reward of the Righteous 2) Confirmation of Life After Death 3) Pathway to Heaven |
| Hands | 1) Devotion 2) Prayer |
| Hands - Outstretched w/ thumbs touching | Jewish - a descendant of Aaron, the High Priest |
| Hands - Clasped | 1) Farewell 2) Hope of Meeting in Eternity 3) Devotion to the Departed 4) Bond of Marriage |
| Hands - Folded | 1) Devotion 2) Prayer |
| Hands - Blessing | Blessing of Those Left Behind |
| Hands - Praying | Asking God for Eternal Life |
| Handshakes | Farewell |
| Harp | 1) Praise to the Maker 2) Hope |
| Hart | The Faithful Thirsting for God |
| Heart | 1) Love 2) Devotion 3) Sorrow 4) Joy 5) Mortality 6) Soul in Bliss 7) Love of Christ 8) the Soul in Heaven |
| Heart - Stylized | Affection of the Living for the Dead |
| Heart - Sacred | Catholic - Suffering of Christ for Our Sins |
| Heart - in Mouth of Death's Head | Soul Emerging Triumphant From Death |
| Heart - Flaming | Religious Fervor |
| Heart - Pierced by Sword | 1) Virgin Mary 2) Christ 3) Repentance |
| Helmet | 1) Military Service 2) Strength 3) Protection. |
| Holy Books - Two (2) | Mormon - Bible and Book of Mormon |
| Holy Books - Three (3) | Mormon - Scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants. |
| Horns | The Resurrection |
| Horse | 1) Strength 2) Courage 3)The Swiftness of the Passage of Time |
| Horseshoe | Protection against evil |
| Hourglass | 1) Swiftness of time 2) Temperance 3) Traditional symbol of Father Time |
| Hourglass - w/Wings of Time | 1) Time flying 2) Short Life |
| IHS | 1) Christian symbol: "In His
Service" or "In this sign conquer" 2) Eternity 3) Commonly used in Celtic crosses |
| Imps | Mortality |
| Isis | 1) Rebirth 2) The Virgin Mary |
| Ivy | 1) Friendship 2) Immortality 3) Fidelity 4) Attachment 5) Undying Affection 6) Eternal Life 7) Memory 8) Faithfulness |
| Labyrinth | 1) Eternity 2) The inward path |
| Lamb | 1) Innocence 2) Resurrection 3) Christ the Redeemer 4) Meekness 5) Sacrifice 6) Child |
| Lamb - w/ Banner | Resurrection |
| Lamp | 1) Immortality of the Spirit 2) Resurrection 3) Knowledge of God |
| Laurel | 1) Fame, esp. Literary or Artistic 2) Victory 3) Honor 4) Glory 5) Worldly Accomplishment 6) Heroism 7) Triumph |
| Laurel Leaves | Triumph |
| Leather cutter's Knife, Nippers, Sole cutter & Awl | Shoemaker |
| Light | 1)
Immortality of the Spirit 2) Resurrection |
| Lily | 1) Purity 2) Chastity 3) Resurrection 4) Virgin Mary 5) Annunciation 6) Heavenly Bliss 7) Innocence |
| Lily of the Valley | 1) Rebirth 2) Virgin Mary |
| Lion | 1) Courage 2) Bravery 3) Strength 4) Resurrection 5) Royalty 6) Power 7) Guardian 8) Fallen Hero |
| Lion - Winged | St. Mark the Evangelist |
| Loom, Shuttle & Stretchers | Weaver |
| Lotus | 1) Purity 2) Resurrection 3) Perfect Beauty 4) Spiritual Revelation |
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