HOW TO INTERPRET GRAVESTONE
MOTIFS
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These are a
few of the many motifs that are found on gravestones
along with some of the more commonly held
interpretations of their symbolism.
- Acorn - As
the seed of the oak, the acorn is a symbol of
potential. In Norse and Celtic culture, acorns
symbolized life, fertility and immortality. Druids
ate acorns, believing them to have prophetic
qualities, and acorns were sacred to the god Thor
whose Tree of Life was the oak. "Acorns and oak
leaves form one of the circular 'hex' signs used by
the Amish and Mennonite communities of southern
Pennsylvania, the various signs believed to bestow
favors such as protection or natural abundance"
- Anchor -
Commonly used in the 18th and 19th centuries to
represent hope or the deceased's seafaring
profession. Also used, often wrapped in vines, to
represent firm Christian faith.
- Angel, Flying
- Rebirth or Resurrection
- Angel, Trumpeting
- Resurrection
- Angel, Weeping
- Grief and Mourning
- Ankh The
original meaning of this ancient Egyptian symbol is
not known. One possible theory suggests that it
combines the male and female symbols of Osiris (the
cross) and Isis (the oval) and therefore signifies
the union of heaven and earth. It is usually
portrayed in ancient Egyptian art in the hands of a
diety. As a hieroglyph, it likely encompassed a
range of meanings depending on its associated
hieroglyphs but all of these expressions centered
around the concept of life or life-force. Over time,
the ankh certainly came to symbolize life and
immortality, the universe, power and life-giving air
and water. "Its key like shape also encouraged the
belief that it could unlock the gates of death". The
Coptic Christians used it as a symbol of life after
death. The ankh has been used in magic and today it
usually symbolizes peace and truth
- Arches -
Victory in Death
- Arrows -
Mortality
- Bats Commonly
used in 18th century New England to represent the
underworld.
- Bird -
Eternal life
- Bird, Flying
- Resurrection
- Books - A
pair of Holy Books on Mormon (LDS) headstones
indicates the Bible and Book of Mormon
- Books -Three
Holy Books on Mormon headstones indicates the
Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants --
all of which are scripture to the LDS Church.
- Bouquets -
Condolences, grief, sorrow
- Bridge -
Since antiquity, bridges have symbolized linking;
between the earthly and heavenly realms, between the
physical and the spiritual, or between life and
death. In modern psychoanalytic terms, bridges
symbolize the transition from one state of being to
another and the opportunity for change. The bridge's
near side represents the past, its opposite side the
future, and water flowing underneath, the chaos of
the unconscious mind.
- Broken Column
- Loss of Head of Family
- Broken Ring -
Family Circle Severed
- Buds -
Morning of Life or Renewal of Life
- Bugles -
Resurrection and the Military
- Bunch of Grapes
In Egyptian art it symbolizes the heart, because of
the similarity of shape, color and blood-like juice
of the grape. Since the heart is vital to life, it
therefore symbolizes life itself.
- Butterfly -
Based on its evolution from egg to caterpillar to
chrysalis to butterfly, it represents the soul,
transformation and rebirth, the creation of life
from apparent death. To the Chinese, the butterfly
symbolizes immortality. The Japanese view it as a
symbol of fickleness because of its flighty
behavior, although a pair of butterflies represents
marital happiness and a white butterfly signifies
the spirit of the dead. In Christianity, the
butterfly is a symbol of resurrection but is
sometimes viewed also as symbolic of transience
because of its short lifespan, and of vanity.
- Candle - In
Christianity, candles represent the divine light of
Christ and faith. In Catholic funeral rites, candles
signify the light of heaven. When lit by worshippers
and placed before shrines, candles signify the souls
of the departed or a request for illumination by
prayer. When on opposite sides of a cross on an
altar, the two candles represent the dual nature of
Christ, human and divine. Many religions and
cultures use the burning candle as a symbol of
light, life, spirituality, truth and eternal life.
- Candle being
Snuffed - Time, mortality
- Cherub -
Angelic
- Clock/Watch -
Represents the transitory nature of human existence.
In psychoanalysis it signifies human emotions. It
also can represent new beginnings and opportunities.
- Coat of Arms
- High social status and family lineage.
- Coffins -
Often carved on 17th and 18th century New England
tombstones to signify mortality.
- Corn - Ripe
Old Age
- Coffin -
Mortality
- Cross -
Emblem of faith, there are many different types of
crosses. The crucifix, a Christian symbol, is a
Latin cross with an image of Christ nailed to it and
depicts the sacrifice Jesus made for human
salvation. The shepherd's cross has a crooked apex
and represents both the Christian faith and Jesus'
role in guiding people through life and saving lost
souls. The Celtic cross was prevalent in Ireland and
it looks like a cross with its arms surrounded by a
circle. this cross signifies the Christian faith,
the circle the power of the sun and eternity, and
together they represent the unity of heaven and
earth. In pagan times, this cross symbolized
fertility and life. A cross whose vertical arm ends
in a point is called a crossy fitch. Often used in
heraldry, it looks like a cross and sword combined,
and signifies one's unshakeable faith in
Christianity and willingness to defend it.
- Cross, Celtic
- In pagan times, this cross, with its axis enclosed
by a circle, was a symbol of fertility and life, the
cross representing male potency and the circle,
female power. Prevalent in Ireland, it is now
primarily a Christian symbol signifying the unity of
heaven and earth.
- Crossed Swords
- High-ranking military person
- Crown -
Commonly used on 18th century New England headstones
to represent the crown of righteousness.
- Crucifix -
Salvation. This Latin cross with the image of Christ
nailed to it is a Christian symbol which shows the
sacrifice Jesus made for human's salvation.
- Darts -
Death, mortality. Sometimes seen on 17th and 18th
century New England tombstones.
- Dog -
Loyalty, Vigilance, Courage. As a symbol of
faithfulness, dogs often appear at the feet of women
on medieval tomb engravings. In Christianity, the
dog guards and guides the flock, and so becomes an
allegory of the priest. The dog is also a companion
of the dead on their crossing. Ancient Egyptians and
Greeks believed it followed its master into the
afterlife. Many cultures believed that dogs were
mediators with the realm of the dead: the Egyptian
god Anubis who oversees embalming and weighs the
heart of the dead is jackal-headed, Cerburus the
guardian of the entrance to the Greek underworld is
a three-headed dog with a serpent's tail, the dog
Garmr guards the Norse underworld. The Celts and
Greeks believed dogs possessed healing powers. In
some African cultures, the dog is the father of
civilization and the bringer of fire. In the
eleventh sign of the Chinese zodiac, the dog
symbolizes idealism. In Chinese tradition, the dog
can signify both catastrophe and protection. Among
Jews and Moslems, the dog possesses negative
qualities. It is unclean and, when black, signifies
the Devil.
- Door -
Passage from one state to another. In Christianity,
the door signifies salvation through Christ who said
"I am the door." In dream interpretation, a closed
door represents a hidden mystery or barrier, an open
door liberation or invitation to a new challenge, an
inward opening door the need for self-exploration,
and an outward opening door represents accessibility
to others.
- Dove - Holy
Spirit, Soul Reaching Peace, Spirituality. In Slavic
culture, at death the soul turns into a dove. In
Visigothic and Romanesque art, it represents souls.
In Hinduism, the dove represents the spirit. This
bird was sacred to Zeus, to Athena as a symbol of
the renewal of life, and to Aphrodite as a symbol of
love. To the ancient Egyptians, it signified
innocence, and in Islam the dove is the protector of
Mohammad. In Christianity, the Holy Ghost of the
Trinity is often portrayed as a dove. In China it
represents longevity and orderliness while in Japan
the dove is associated with the war god Hachiman. In
Jewish history the dove was sometimes sacrificed for
a mother's purification after childbirth. The dove
is sometimes an emblem of Israel.
- Dove and Olive
Branch - Peace. This symbol stems from
Judeo-Christian culture and the biblical story of
Noah and the great flood. When the dove returned to
the ark with an olive branch from the Mount of
Olives in its beak, it was a sign of God's
forgiveness. It is now a common secular symbol.
- Dragon -
Dramatically different interpretation between
Eastern and Western cultures. In the Orient, the
dragon protects humans from evil spirits and
represents joy, health and fertility. But in Western
cultures, the dragon possesses the negative traits
of the snake, destruction, danger, depravity, and
loss of innocence. In Jewish tradition, mythical
beasts like the dragon are messianic creatures.
- Drapes -
Mourning or Mortality
- Eagle -
Height, The Spiritual, Courage, Victory, Power. With
its speedy and high flight, the eagle is an
extensively used symbol throughout many time periods
and cultures. With the details varying, a common
thread in most eagle symbolism is dominating and
destroying baser forces, or the victory of higher
powers. In Oriental art, it is often shown fighting.
In Christian tradition, it carries a serpent in its
beak to represent Christ's victory over Satan. In
pre-Columbian America it represented the struggle
between the spiritual/celestial and the lower world.
On the banner of the Roman legion, it represented
the victorious Roman Empire. As the king of the
birds, it came to symbolize royalty. In many
nations, such as the U.S., the eagle is the symbol
of sovereignty and nationhood. The eagle also is
commonly a messenger. In Christianity and some
Native American traditions, the eagle is a messenger
between god and man. Also a messenger in Vedic
tradition. Often associated with the sun and the
day, luminous, positive and active as opposed to the
owl, the bird of darkness, death, and night. In
ancient Syria, where the eagle symbolized sun
worship, it assisted souls to immortality. In Native
American cultures, the eagle's feathers symbolized
the sun's rays, therefore the Great Spirit. This
bird is often associated with thunder and fire.
- Eye of God -
Judeo-Christian symbol that includes an eye with a
tent below it and a three-link chain underneath.
Often shown in a triangle, the eye signifies God,
the all-seeing, at the center of the Trinity. The
tent is the house of God, its flaps open to show
inner truth. The chain represents both the Trinity
and the link that binds the faithful to God.
- Father Time -
Mortality
- Flowers -
Condolences, grief, sorrow
- Flower, Severed
Stem - Shortened life
- Flying Birds
- Flight of the Soul
- Fruit -
Various fruits possess their own symbolic meaning
but fruit in general signifies abundance. Also,
since it contains seeds, it represents life,
potential, immortality.
- Garlands -
Victory in death
- Gateway -
Carries much of the same symbolism as the door but
the destination is less personal. It represents
entrance to greater areas, the mystical, heaven or
hell, spiritual palace. A series of gateways can
represent the stages of enlightenment. In dream
interpretation, the gateway invites
self-exploration. It is a symbol of initiation,
passing through the gateway into a new state of
being.
- Gourds - In
17th and 18th century New England, the birth and
death of earthly matters.
- Grapes and
Grapevines - Grapes signify sacrifice, since
they are used in the making of wine, which, in
Christianity represents Christ's blood and his
sacrifice. They can also connote life and
immortality. From the Old Testament, among the Jews,
the grapevine signifies peace and abundance.
- Hammer - This
tool, used in building and shaping, represents the
power of creation.
- Hand - This
is a very expressive symbol that takes on different
meanings depending on its positioning in relation to
the body and arrangement of the fingers. The raised
hand symbolizes voice and song, placed on the chest
it represents the wisdom of the sage, on the neck it
depicts sacrifice, covering the eyes it signifies
clairvoyance at the moment of death. Two hands
joined typically signify union. A common hand
placement on Jewish tombstones is the two open
hands, thumbs touching, with index and middle finger
spread away from the ring and pinkie fingers. This
gesture, raised above the head, is used by priests
to bring God's glory through the hands' openings and
to the congregation. In Egyptian hieroglyphics,
pre-Columbian America and as an amulet in Islamic
cultures, the open hand represents a human task and
magnetic force. The hand, with its five fingers,
takes on the meaning of the number five, i.e., love,
health and humanity.
- Hand of God
Chopping - Sudden Death
- Hand with Finger
Pointing - Gone Home, Look to God, Direction.
The pointing finger represents direction, whether
physical, spiritual or psychological.
- Handshakes -
Carry a variety of meanings including, greeting,
goodbye, friendship, solidarity, unity and
agreement, and the doubling of power achieved
through partnership. The right hand is the
life-force or hand of power. An eye associated with
a hand symbolizes clairvoyant action.
- Harp -
Harmony with the universe and ascent to higher
things, a bridge between heaven and earth. In
Judaism, the harp is a symbol of David, conqueror of
Goliath and king of Israel. David's harp playing
relieved King Saul's depression and when he became
king, the midnight wind playing on a harp that
overhung his bed called him to study the Torah.
- Hearts - Soul
in Bliss or Love of Christ
- Hooped Snake
- In 18th and 19th century New England, this symbol
meant eternity.
- Horns - The
Resurrection
- Hourglass -
Mortality. The swiftness of time. Because it must be
turned upside down for the sand to run out, it also
represents the cycle of life and death, and heaven
and earth. In Christianity, it personifies
temperance.
- Hourglass with
Wings of Time - Time Flying; Short Life
- Imps -
Mortality
- Iris - Light
and Hope. With its pointed leaves, it's often called
the sword Lilly and is associated with the sorrow of
the Virgin Mary. To the Chinese, this flower
represents affection, grace and beauty.
- Ivy -
Immortality, Friendship, Faithfulness. Because it is
an evergreen that clings while climbing, it
signifies the need for protection. Since it grows
quickly, it also symbolizes regeneration, sensuality
and revelry. The Greco-Roman god Dionysus, or
Bacchus, had an ivy cup and wore a crown of ivy
leaves.
- Key -
Mystery, Opening and Closing, Solution to a Problem.
Its dual symbolism can mean liberation and the
ability to unlock secrets, or incarceration. It can
represent the threshold of the unconscious or a task
to be performed and the means of carrying it out. In
Catholicism, the key is a papal emblem, the key to
the gates of heaven. In Greek mythology, Hecate
holds the key to hell. In Judaism the key of God
controls birth and death. In Japan the key
represents happiness. A dove and a key symbolize the
spirit opening the gates of heaven. The Roman god
Janus, keeper of the doorway, looking both forward
and backward, is associated with two keys that are
sometimes placed over a heart. Especially in
ceremonies for the dead, ancient Egyptian gods are
sometimes depicted holding the ankh from the top as
if it were a key, possibly the key that opens
immortality.
- Labarum -
This symbol is also known as the Monogram of Christ,
Constantine's Cross, the Chrismon, the Christogram
and the Chi-Rho. Since the Roman emperor Constantine
I used this symbol on his shield, overcame his enemy
in battle, and consequently converted to
Christianity, the labarum has been a symbol of
Christianity. In pre-Christian Greece it signified a
good omen. It also represented the Chaldean sky god.
- Lamb -
Purity, Innocence, Gentleness, Sacrifice. In
Christianity it represents the sacrificial
crucifixion of Christ for the sins of the world.
- Laurel
Leaves/Wreath - Victory. The laurel wreath was
first worn by the ancient Romans in parades after
triumph in battle where it was viewed as a prize and
a sign of divine blessing. With the Pythian Games in
ancient Greece, the laurel wreath became an emblem
of victory. The laurel is an evergreen thought to
have purifying powers that could result in
immortality. The laurel wreath is often still used
as a mark of distinction for those who have excelled
in their pursuits.
- Lily or Lily of
Valley - Light, Purity, Perfection, Mercy and
Majesty. In Greco-Roman mythology this flower was
sacred to Hera and Artemis. In Byzantium and early
France, it was a royal emblem (the fleur-de-lys is
sometimes considered a stylized Lilly). Primarily
the Lilly has Christian associations, usually
attached to the Virgin Mary where it signifies
chastity. When Christ is shown as the judge of the
world with a Lilly in his mouth, the flower
represents mercy. a Lilly and a sword signify guilt
and innocence.
- Lion - Valor,
Strength, Courage, Pride, Wisdom, Protection,
Majesty, an ancient symbol of the sun.
- Lotus -
Purity, Resurrection, Evolution, Potential. Commonly
used in ancient Egypt and in Hinduism, the flower is
sacred in Buddhism. "It symbolizes the creation of
life from the slime of the primordial waters. The
closed lotus represents potential. Depending on the
number of petals, the lotus' symbolism changes,
shaped by the symbolism of the number. With eight
petals, it represents cosmic harmony, with 1,000
petals it means spiritual revelation. The lotus is
the emblem of India and Egypt.
- Masonic Compass
and Set-square - Freemasons combine religious
and construction and architectural forms in their
symbols. Viewing God as the architect and builder of
the universe, Freemasonry intends to build the
temple of humanity through self-improvement with
stone-masonry work. The compass, used in geometric
calculations, symbolizes creation and the spirit.
The set-square draws perfect right angles, so
represents uprightness and lawfulness. The compass
and the square measure things, so they symbolize
judgement. They also represent geometry, and the
union of the sky (the compass's circle) and the
earth (the square). The letter "G" in this symbol
represents God, geometry and geomancy. Compasses and
a mason's square also were the emblems of the
Chinese emperor Fu Hsi.
- Menorah -
Jewish symbol of divine wisdom. The seven branches
of the candle represent the seven days of creation;
the sun, moon and planets; the seven heavens; and
the seven stars of Ursa Major.
- Morning Glory
- Beginning of Life
- Oak Leaves &
Acorn - Maturity, Ripe Old Age
- Open Book / Bible
- Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc.
- Palm Tree/Branch
- The palm has a variety of sacred and secular
associations. In the Kabbalah, it symbolizes the
righteous man and was an emblem of Judea after the
Exodus. One of the four plants paraded on the Sukkot
to celebrate God's bounty, it represents the Jew who
studies the Torah but does not obey the
commandments. Other interpretations include the
spine that bends before God, and God. In
Christianity, it signifies righteousness,
resurrection, and martyrdom based on Christ's entry
into Jerusalem where palm branches were laid in his
path. In the Middle Ages, a palm leaf was a badge of
pilgrimage to the Holy Land and people wearing it
were called 'palmers.' Because of its height and
radiating leaves, it was an early fertility and sun
symbol. The Babylonians considered it a divine tree
because of its association with the sun. In many
early Middle Eastern civilizations the palm was a
Tree of Life; the Phoenician god Baal-Tamar was the
lord of the palm and the palm was the emblem of the
goddesses Astarte and Ishtar. In ancient Rome,
victors were presented with palm branches and the
palm took on victory as its meaning in ancient Rome,
Egypt and Greece. The palm has also signified fame
and peace. In contemporary, secular culture it
represents tropical delights
- Picks -
Mortality. Commonly used in 17th and 18th century
New England.
- Pine Cone -
Immortality and Fertility The ancient Greeks and
Assyrians viewed the pine cone "as a symbol of
masculinity because of its phallic shape. It formed
the apex of the thyrsus staff, which represented
both fertility and immortality". As the emblem of
Artemis, it represented feminine purity. It was also
the emblem of the Roman goddess Venus (Aphrodite).
In Christianity, the pine cone forms the crown of
the Tree of Life. Because of its swirling form, it
is associated with "dynamic generative and cosmic
power."
- Poppy - Sleep
- Portals -
Passageway to eternal journey
- Pyramid -
Symbol of ancient and modern Egypt, it represents
the power of the kings and creation. Among the
ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, Mayans and Mesopotamians,
pyramids represented the cosmic mountain. In
esoteric thought, it represents the world axis and
enlightenment. The pyramid is a synthesis of
different forms: the base is a square representing
earth, the apex is the beginning and finishing point
of all things, and the sloping, triangle sides that
link the apex to its base represent fire, divine
revelation and the threefold principle of creation,
thereby symbolizing all of creation.
- Rising Sun -
Resurrection, Immortality.
- Rope -
Eternity, Binding and Connection. In Egyptian
hieroglyphics, a knotted cord signifies a man's
name, a symbol of an individual's existence. In
Vedic teaching, the silver cord "expresses the
sacred, inner path which binds the outer
consciousness of man (his intellect) with his
spiritual essence"
- Rosebud -
Morning of Life or Renewal of Life
- Roses -
Brevity of earthly existence, Completion,
Achievement, Perfection. Meanings vary depending on
the color, shape and number of petals. For example,
the blue rose symbolizes the impossible, the golden
rose the pinnacle of achievement, an eight petal
rose regeneration.
- Scales -
Justice, Balance. Originating in Chaldea as the
mystic symbol of justice, it represents the
equivalence of guilt and punishment. From the
zodiacal archetype of Libra it represents immanent
justice, the idea that guilt automatically unleashes
the forces that bring self-destruction and
punishment.
- Scarab - An
ancient Egyptian emblem symbolizing the renewal of
life. When shown with falcon's wings it represents
transcendence and protection.
- Shattered Urn
Someone Old
- Sheaf of Wheat
- Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time
- Shell - The
Human Journey Through Life, Birth, Life,
Resurrection, Love, Good Luck. The shell's hard
casing protects life, the pearl inside, and its
aquatic nature associates it with the feminine,
lunar, and virginity. Both the Hindu goddess Lakshmi
and the Greco-Roman goddess Aphrodite were carried
ashore on a scallop shell. In medieval Christianity
the scallop shell was the emblem of St. James, the
patron of pilgrims, so the shell came to symbolize a
pilgrimage. The scallop shell is also associated
with the guardian angel Raphael, and the Virgin
Mary. In later Christianity, it symbolized
resurrection and baptism. In Buddhism and Hinduism
the conch shell's call awakens the faithful from
ignorance. The conch also is a sign of victory over
samsara, or suffering existence, in Buddhism. In
Chinese Buddhism, the conch shell can signify a
prosperous journey, and in Islam it represents the
hearing of the divine word.
- Ships - Hope
or Seafaring profession
- Shovels -
Mortality
- Skeleton -
The personification of death.
- Skull -
Mortality. Because it is what survives of the living
once the body is destroyed, it is also used to
represent life and thought, especially in alchemy,
where it is the receptacle used in transmutation
processes. In Christianity, a skull wearing a crown
of thorns means eternal damnation.
- Stag - Life,
Wisdom, Regeneration and Growth, Virility. Because
its antlers resemble branches, the stag has been
associated with the Tree of Life and because of the
way it renews its antlers, it's been used as a
symbol of regeneration. In the West during the
Middle Ages, the stag was often shown with a
crucifix between its horns where, in Christianity,
it represents purity and solitude and was the enemy
of Satan, the serpent. The Celts believed the stag
led souls through the darkness. The stag also was
associated with warriors and hunting in Celtic
culture and in Greco-Roman mythology where it was an
animal sacred to Artemis. In Buddhism, the golden
stag represents knowledge. The Chinese regard it as
a symbol of virility and happiness.
- Star The
Spirit, Divine Presence, Enlightenment, Wisdom,
Human Aspiration. Represents light struggling
against darkness. The Babylonian goddess Ishtar's
emblem was an eight-pointed star and females such as
Astarte, Isis, and the Virgin Mary are often
pictured with a crown of stars. Stars are sometimes
believed to be the souls of the dead with comets
being seen as foretellers of doom and a sign of the
anger of the sun god. Stars often take on additional
meaning depending on their color, shape, number of
points and arrangement. The most common, the five
pointed star, comes from Egyptian hieroglyphics
where it meant "rising upwards toward the point of
origin" and formed part of words such as "to bring
up," "to educate," "the teacher".
- Star of David
- Symbol of Judaism and the State of Israel. This
star, comprised of an overlapping upright and an
inverted triangle, is associated with David because
he carried a hexagrammic shield against Goliath. The
interlocking triangles represent the union of
opposites. The Kabbalists believed this emblem had
protective power and magical properties. It is also
called the Creator's Star with each point
representing the days of the week and the hexagram
representing the Sabbath.
- Stars & Stripes
Around Eagle - Eternal Vigilance, Liberty
- Steps - A
common symbol used around the world, steps generally
mean Ascension, Stages or Levels. The number of
steps brings the meaning of numbers into the
interpretation as does the symbolism of any objects
that surround or are a part of the steps. In
Romanesque art, steps represent the relationship
between worlds. In many religions steps, or a
ladder, are seen as the path to god. For alchemists
of the Middle Ages, steps were associated with the
transmutation process.
- Swallow Hope,
Fertility, Renewal of Life, Resurrection Like most
birds, it also represents light. In ancient Egypt,
it symbolized motherhood. In ancient Greece and
Rome, it was a bad omen to kill a swallow because it
held the spirits of dead children. In Swedish
legend, a swallow was present at Christ's
crucifixion, where it called for consolation. In
China, it represents daring, danger, and a good
change in fortune and in Japan it can mean
unfaithfulness and maternal care. In Islam, the
swallow makes an annual pilgrimage to Mecca and so
is revered. In African cultures it represents
purity. These birds are often symbols of
illumination and good luck.
- Thistles -
Traditional Scottish symbol connoting remembrance.
- Tombs -
Mortality
- Torch -
Turned upside down, it represents death. Right side
up, it symbolizes life and the regenerative power of
fire. It has been used in initiation and fertility
rites in many cultures and was the emblem, in Greek
mythology, of Eros and Aphrodite, symbolizing the
flame of love. In Christianity, the torch represents
purification through God's illuminating the spirit,
and Christ as the Light of the World. Associated
with one of the seven deadly sins, it represents
anger. The torch is also seen as an emblem of places
of learning and signifies truth and intelligence.
- Tree Stump w/Ivy
- Head of Family; Immortality
- Trees - Life
- Triangle - In
the Christian tradition, the triangle represents
Faith, Hope and Charity, and the Holy Trinity of
Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The symbolism of this
shape is always associated with its three sides,
signifying a variety of triads such as birth, life
and death; heaven, earth and human; mind, body and
soul; body, soul and spirit; and father, mother and
child. In ancient Egypt, the triangle combined will,
intelligence, and love to represent man's soul. The
ancient Egyptians and the Mayans built stepped
pyramids with temples at the top to represent the
cosmic mountain. In magic and alchemy, the pyramid
with its apex pointing upward represents fire or
masculinity and when inverted, represents water or
femininity. These two triangles combined signify the
unity of the elements in alchemy and, in Judaism's
Star of David they stand for the union of opposites.
The pyramid can also represent aspiration, the
struggle to climb to the top and achieve one's
earthly ambition or heavenly ascent.
- Trumpeters -
Heralds of the Resurrection
- Urn with Blaze
- Undying Friendship
- Urn with Wreath
or Crepe - Mourning
- Willows -
Presented in a variety of styles, this symbol is of
German origin and usually represents sorrow.
- Winged Effigies
- Flight of the Soul
- Winged Sun Disk
- This is an ancient Egyptian symbol which
represents the journey of the sun. Ra was the
creator of the world, ancestor of the pharaohs and
god of the sun (symbolized by the solar disk) and
skies (symbolized by the wings). The winged sun disk
symbolizes the life-giving power of the sun and the
spiritual attributes of the heavens.
- Wreaths -
Victory in Death.
- Yew Leaves -
Eternal Life
- Yin-Yang Circle
- The symbol comes from Taoism and Confucianism and
represents harmony and balance. It denotes the two
existential and controlling forces of the universe,
the yin, the negative and passive feminine power
depicted in black and on the left side of the
circle, and the yang, the positive and active
masculine power depicted in white on the right side
of the circle. Yin represents the soul, wetness,
cold, darkness, the moon, the Earth and sustenance.
Yang represents the spirit, light, heat, dryness,
day, the sun, heaven, creation and dominance. The
yin before the yang signifies primeval darkness
before creation. The small circle of the opposite
color contained within both the yin and the yang
represents the seed of the other and therefore their
interdependence. The sigmoid line dividing the yin
and yang means dynamism and the two are contained
within a circle of revolution and unity.
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