VIEWS: 8 PAGES: 4 POSTED ON: 1/21/2012
Meanings of carvings, compiled from several sources (see also images mentioned in the paragraphs above) : arches victory in death arrows mortality *bouquets or flowers condolences, grief, sorrow *buds, rosebud morning of life, renewal of life *roses brevity of earthly existence portals passageway to eternal journey bugles resurrection; also, the military crossed swords high-ranking military person flying birds flight of the soul fruits eternal plenty garlands victory in death imps mortality shells pilgrimage of life clouds veil which conceals God from His worshipers sun or rays the presence of Christ; the sun connotes resurrection *Celtic cross (has circle at from Ireland -- It is said to serve as a double symbol of the intersection of the eternity and unity, both that of the Son with the Father and crossbar and the upright the Holy Spirit and that of the believer with the Trinity. That shaft) was a common theme of St. Patrick's preaching a Jewish symbol indicating the deceased was a Cohen, a Temple Priest two hands, palms facing the viewer, with the four fingers on each hand positioned as two sets of two fingers on a Jewish man's gravestone, signifies a Levite, who was responsible for cleaning the hands of the Temple Priest before he performed his priestly duties a pitcher star guidance for the soul thistles remembrance *tombs mortality symbolize life or death, depending on whether they appear *trees alive or felled trumpeters heralds of the resurrection morning glory beginning of life butterfly short-lived, early death; resurrection full-blown rose prime of life palm branch victory and rejoicing ivy friendship; immortality *laurel fame of victory **oak leaves, acorn maturity, ripe old age ***weeping willow, often with urn, tomb, and/or emblem of sorrow mourner corn ripe old age *sheaf of wheat, perhaps ripe for harvest; divine harvest; time with scythe poppy sleep *lamb innocence -- usually on a child's gravestone dove innocence, gentleness, affection, purity cherub angelic *cross emblem of faith anchor or ship hope, or seafaring profession broken ring; chain forming a near-circle, perhaps with family circle severed one broken link dangling in place broken column loss of head of family torch inverted life extinguished urn with blaze undying friendship harp praise to God *hand with index finger hope for / awareness of heaven, God, eternal destiny pointing upward *handshakes / clasped farewell; often shown on spouses' stones hands heart love for the deceased; soul in bliss, or love of Christ swiftness of time; short life. Its use associated with personified figures of Death and Father Time comes out of a long tradition of mortuary symbolism. Rarely used alone; usually appeared along with hearts, stars, leaves and sacred hourglass, perhaps with flowering vines. It was also the frequent companion of wings of time winged death's-heads and bones. Though the hourglass is commonly thought of as a symbol of passing time, I have discovered few gravestones featuring hourglasses in all my exploring . . . but each is lovely *open book / Bible knowledge; possibly, deceased teacher or minister lily, or lily of the valley innocence, purity deceased was the head of family; immortality; life cut tree stump, sometimes short. The Millious family marker at Elbridge Rural with ivy Cemetery (see photo in virtual tour), about ten feet tall, is an extraordinary example of this style *pall, wreath, crepe mourning draping Stars and Stripes around liberty; eternal vigilance an eagle candle being snuffed time; mortality coffin, Father Time, picks mortality; the passing away of the flesh, items used / shovels, darts, palls, surrounding its entombment, and the inevitability of death skulls, skeletons and bones hand of God chopping sudden death winged effigies flight of the soul *American Flag on stone, or small flag placed beside usually, military service; patriotism stone Christ, Virgin Mary, a devotion to that holy figure; desire for their aid to attain saint, an angel or the like heaven honors glorified souls and angels, or points to the triumph of death, when it caps a winged skull. Sometimes juxtaposed crown with cross; indicates that earthly life includes suffering, and the afterlife, victory. *geometry compass, in Masonic affiliation (Freemasons; Free and Accepted open position, often shown Masons) over open book, with letter "G" within angle of compass star with letters affiliation with the Order of the Eastern Star, a women's "O.E.S." between its group within the Masonic organization points A.E.F. American Expeditionary Forces D.A.R. / S.A.R. Daughters / Sons of the American Revolution Friendship, Love, and Truth. It is the symbol of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization. The letters F.L.T.in three In this day and time, its name may sound like, well, links of a chain; I.O.O.F. something it isn't. This organization takes care of widows and orphans, and in general, does good works. Grand Army of the Republic; the Union Army during the G.A.R. War Between the States P. of H. Patrons of Husbandry; a grange affiliation relict widow *æ;Æ an abbreviation for "aged", as in "died May 13, 1864, æ 54 "a" and "e" next to one yrs 1 month & 6 days" another or touching while some sources state that the following meanings are NOT uniformly intended by the monument craftsman, other sources state that if the horse has both front hoofs in the air, soldier on horseback the person died in battle. If one hoof is raised, the person died as a result of wounds; if the horse has all four hoofs on the ground, the person died of natural causes signifies devotion to Jesus Christ; variously interpreted as an IHS Occasionally seen abbreviation for His name as spelled in ancient languages, or as IXC of the Latin phrase Iesu Hominum Salvator (Jesus, mankind's Savior) Headstones offering several lines of verse -- of mourning, remembrance, tribute, encouragement and inspiration, or prayer -- were also common in the mid-19th century.
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