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