More than you'll ever want to know, from "what symbols on grave stones mean"

THE ASSOCIATION FOR GRAVESTONE STUDIES

SYMBOLISM IN THE CARVINGS ON OLD GRAVESTONES

What is the meaning of the designs carved on old gravestones?
This question is often asked by both the interested layman and
the serious student of gravestone art. A great deal of casual
speculation and considerable scholarly research have been devoted
to finding answers.

Speculative interpretations of some of the more obvious designs
can safely be made by the insightful observer. The winged
hourglass, for example, tells us that time flies; the hourglass
on its side, that time has stopped for the deceased; the broken
flower or tree, that life has been cut short. Hundreds of other
designs invite this kind of O&W, simplistic interpretation, and a
number of lists have been prepared which suggest to the reader
what the symbol probably means. The best of these is included in
a handsome book of gravestone photographs by Francis Duval and Ivan
Rigby, Early American Gravestone Art in Photographs..

Unfortunately, not all designs on gravestones can be interpreted
in such a neat, uncomplicated way, and attempts to do so are
fraught with the likelihood of error. Professional scholars
disagree sharply about the meaning of particular designs; they
even debate the extent to which it is possible to determine their
meaning and significance. This healthy diversity of opinion
stimulates interest and further study.

Because there are few simple answers, you should, if you are
interested in the symbolism on old gravestones, approach the
subject with an open, inquiring attitude laced with a healthy
skepticism. Familiarize yourself with varying scholarly opinions.
Read literature about the work of individual carvers and about
the life of the period. Of most importance, study the stones
themselves. With patience and perseverance you will develop a
good background and understanding of this fascinating subject.

The following bibliography will help you get started:

BOOKS
Benes, Peter, The Masks of Orthodoxy: Folk Gravestone Carving in
Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1689-1805. The University of
Massachusetts Press, Amherst, Massachusetts, 1977. $20,
hardcover.

Duval, Francis Y., and Ivan B. Rigby, Early American Gravestone
Art in Photographs. Dover Publications, Inc., Nev York, 1979. $6,
soft-cover. (See the "Alphabetical List of Gravestone Motifs, p.
132.)



Forbes, Harriette Merrifield, Gravestones of Early New England
and the Men Who Made Them 1653-1800. The Pyne Press, Princeton,
New Jersey, 1927 reprint, soft-cover. This book, currently out of
print, is available in libraries. (See Chapter 11, "Symbolism,"
pp. 113-124.)

George, Diana Hume and Malcolm A. Nelson, Epitaph and Icon: A
Field Guide to the Old Grounds of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard,
and Nantucket. Parnassus Imprints, Orleans, Massachusetts, 1983.
$12.95, soft-cover.

Gillon, Jr., Edmund Vincent, Early New England Gravestone
Rubbings. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1966. (See the
"Notes on the Plates," pp. xvii-xxvi.)

Jacobs, G.Walker, Stranger Stop and Cast an Eye. A Guide to
Gravestones and Gravestone Rubbing. The Stephen Greene Press,
Brattleboro, Vermont, 1972. $4.95. hardcover. (See Chapter 1, "A
Brief History of Grave Symbols and Stonecutters," pp. 17-51.)

Ludwig, Allan I., Graven Images: New England Stonecarving and its
Symbols, 1650-1815. Wesleyan University Press, Middletown,
Connecticut, 1966. $12.50, soft-cover. (See Chapter 2,
"Iconography." pp. 65-238.)

Tashjian, Dickran and Ann, Memorials for Children of Change: The
Art of New England Stonecarving. Wesleyan University Press,
Middletown, Connecticut, 1973. $20, hardcover.

Wasserman, Emily, Gravestone Designs: Rubbings and Photographs
from Early New York and New Jersey. Dover Publications, Inc., New
York, 1972. (See Introduction, pp. 1-33, and Notes on the Plates,
pp. I-x.)

Willsher, Betty and Doreen Hunter, Stones: 18th Century Scottish
Gravestones. Taplinger Publishing Company, New York, 1979. $7.50,
soft-cover. (Although this excellent little book is about
Scottish rather than American stones, the symbols are the same.)

Williams, Melvin G.. The Last Word: The Lure and Lore of Early
New England Graveyards. Oldstone Enterprises, 186 Lincoln Street,
Suite 705, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, 1973. 39 Pages, $3.25,
soft-cover. (This booklet includes an excellent 8 page discussion
of symbolism which divides gravestone symbols into categories.)

PAPERS
Foster, Stephen C., "Gravestone Carving and Artistic Intentions
in Essex County," Old Time New England, the bulletin of the
Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, 141
Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Fall 1973, pp. 43-54.
$2.50.

Benes, Peter, editor. Puritan Gravestone Art II, the 1978
Proceedings of the Dublin Seminar for New England Folklife.
Boston University Press, 1979. $7. Four papers from this
publication:
Ludwig, Allan I., and David D. Hall, "Aspects of Music,
Poetry, Stonecarving and Death in Early New England," pp.
18-24.

Mayer, Lance R., "An Alternative to Panofskyism: New England
Grave Stones and the European Folk Art Tradition," pp. 5-
17.

Tashjian, Dickran, "Puritan Attitudes Toward Iconoclasm,"
pp. 37-45.

Watters, David H., "A Priest to the Temple," pp. 25-36.

+++++++

SYMBOLS ON GRAVESTONES AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS
Collection from Barbara Rotundo, Laurel Gabel, Francis Duval

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
Garlan
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

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