[images to be added]
You may have noticed, as you meander through the cemeteries, looking at the tombs, that a number of them contain the same symbols. Below is a list of some of the symbols you may notice, and their meaning. If anyone sees any different ones, or has anything to add to this list please contact me.
Adapted from London Cemeteries - An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer - by Hugh Meller
Anchor: An early Christian symbol meaning 'at rest' or hope
Angel: an agent of the Christian God. Also symbolises a guardian of the dead
Bed: represents the death bed, sometimes seen as only a pillow
Book: this often symbolises faith, often seen with a cross lying on it
Butterfly: the Resurrection - an obvious metaphor; the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis
Circle: eternity - this is also incorportated within the Celtic Cross. This is very much a pagan symbol also, the belief that life is indeed, cyclical, rather than linear.
Column: the most popular sculpture of a column is that which is broken, which traditionally signifies mortality; the column cut short as life has been
Cross: primarily the symbol of Christianity
Crown: the symbol of the Christian martyr, one who may expect reward in heaven
Cypress tree: because of its dark colour the cypress tree represents mourning and death; also, once it is cut down it will never grown again - once again - symbolising death and the end of one's life
Dove: the recognised symbol, in the Christian faith, of the Holy Ghost. Also represents peace - stemming from the story of Noah's Ark.
Gates: entry into heaven
Hands: clasped represents a symbol of farewell. On Jewish tombs, if two hands are outstretched with the thumbs touching, this symbolises a descendant of Aaron, the High Priest (nearly all named Cohen)
Heart: love and devotion
Horse: strength, courage or the swiftness of the passage of time
Hourglass: represents Father Time
Ivy: evergreen, representing immortality or friendship
Labyrinth: popularly represents eternity (presumbably because it would take an eternity to escape a labyrinth?); also used in the esoteric tradition to represent one's inward path.
Lamb: innocence, often used on a child's grave
Lamp: immortality, knowledge of God (lighting your way?)
Laurel: often used to represent someone who's famous - often a litereary or artistic figure
Lily: purity
Lion: courage, strength, the Resurrection
Obelisk: taken from the Egyptian sun-worshipping symbol (very popular in Victorian times) this represents eternal life
Palm: triumph of a martyr over death
Passion flower: Christ's passion, sacrifice and redemption
Phoenix: Christ's resurrection
Rocks: the Church or Christian steadfastness
Rose: sinless, usually associated with the Virgin Mary or Paradise
Scythe or Sickle: the passage of time and death, often a symbol of Father Time
Shell: pilgimage, the badge of the pilgrims who travelled to Compostella in Spain
Ship: The Christan church, symbolically carrying the faithful through the world
Skull: mortality
Snake: with its tail in its mouth, symbolises eternity ; Ouroboros
Sundial: passage of time
Sword: justice, constancy or fortitude
Torch: immortality; upturned - symbolises life extinguished
Tree: life, regeneration and immortality
Urn: draped and empty, symbolises death, derived from classical cinerary urns; if flaming - indicates new life
Water: a hand pouring water from a flagon may occur on Jewish tombs of the Levites whose duty in the synagogue is to pour water upon the hands of the priests
Wheat: fruitfulness harvested
Willow: grief and mourning
Yew: mourning, on account of its dark colour and its association with churchyards
You may have noticed, as you meander through the cemeteries, looking at the tombs, that a number of them contain the same symbols. Below is a list of some of the symbols you may notice, and their meaning. If anyone sees any different ones, or has anything to add to this list please contact me.
Adapted from London Cemeteries - An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer - by Hugh Meller
Anchor: An early Christian symbol meaning 'at rest' or hope
Angel: an agent of the Christian God. Also symbolises a guardian of the dead
Bed: represents the death bed, sometimes seen as only a pillow
Book: this often symbolises faith, often seen with a cross lying on it
Butterfly: the Resurrection - an obvious metaphor; the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis
Circle: eternity - this is also incorportated within the Celtic Cross. This is very much a pagan symbol also, the belief that life is indeed, cyclical, rather than linear.
Column: the most popular sculpture of a column is that which is broken, which traditionally signifies mortality; the column cut short as life has been
Cross: primarily the symbol of Christianity
Crown: the symbol of the Christian martyr, one who may expect reward in heaven
Cypress tree: because of its dark colour the cypress tree represents mourning and death; also, once it is cut down it will never grown again - once again - symbolising death and the end of one's life
Dove: the recognised symbol, in the Christian faith, of the Holy Ghost. Also represents peace - stemming from the story of Noah's Ark.
Gates: entry into heaven
Hands: clasped represents a symbol of farewell. On Jewish tombs, if two hands are outstretched with the thumbs touching, this symbolises a descendant of Aaron, the High Priest (nearly all named Cohen)
Heart: love and devotion
Horse: strength, courage or the swiftness of the passage of time
Hourglass: represents Father Time
Ivy: evergreen, representing immortality or friendship
Labyrinth: popularly represents eternity (presumbably because it would take an eternity to escape a labyrinth?); also used in the esoteric tradition to represent one's inward path.
Lamb: innocence, often used on a child's grave
Lamp: immortality, knowledge of God (lighting your way?)
Laurel: often used to represent someone who's famous - often a litereary or artistic figure
Lily: purity
Lion: courage, strength, the Resurrection
Obelisk: taken from the Egyptian sun-worshipping symbol (very popular in Victorian times) this represents eternal life
Palm: triumph of a martyr over death
Passion flower: Christ's passion, sacrifice and redemption
Phoenix: Christ's resurrection
Rocks: the Church or Christian steadfastness
Rose: sinless, usually associated with the Virgin Mary or Paradise
Scythe or Sickle: the passage of time and death, often a symbol of Father Time
Shell: pilgimage, the badge of the pilgrims who travelled to Compostella in Spain
Ship: The Christan church, symbolically carrying the faithful through the world
Skull: mortality
Snake: with its tail in its mouth, symbolises eternity ; Ouroboros
Sundial: passage of time
Sword: justice, constancy or fortitude
Torch: immortality; upturned - symbolises life extinguished
Tree: life, regeneration and immortality
Urn: draped and empty, symbolises death, derived from classical cinerary urns; if flaming - indicates new life
Water: a hand pouring water from a flagon may occur on Jewish tombs of the Levites whose duty in the synagogue is to pour water upon the hands of the priests
Wheat: fruitfulness harvested
Willow: grief and mourning
Yew: mourning, on account of its dark colour and its association with churchyards
