| Anchor |
Hope, or “at rest”. An early Christian symbol. |
| Angel |
The Agent of God, often pointing heavenwards; also the guardian of the dead. |
| Bed |
A deathbed, sometimes only a pillow. |
| Book |
Often with a cross lying on it, symbolizing faith. |
| Butterfly |
The Resurrection. |
| Circle |
Eternity; incorporated into the Celtic cross. |
| Column |
The broken column traditionally signifies mortality; the support of life being broken. |
| Cross |
has several meanings, but it is above all the symbol of the Christian religion.
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| Crown |
The emblem of the Christian martyr who may expect reward in heaven |
| Cypress Tree |
Mourning and death on account of its dark color, and because once cut down, it never grows again. |
| Dove |
The Holy Ghost or peace. |
| Gates |
Entry into Heaven. |
| Hands |
When clasped are a symbol of farewell. On Jewish tombs two outstretched hands with thumbs touching symbolize 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 |
The traditional symbol of Father Time, who also carries a scythe. |
| Ivy |
The evergreen, symbolizing immortality or friendship. |
| Labyrinth |
In popular usage, symbolizes eternity; used in esoteric tradition to represent the inward path. |
| Lamb |
Innocence, sometimes used on a child’s grave. |
| Lamp |
Immortality, knowledge of God. |
| Laurel |
Fame, often of literary or artistic figure. |
| Lily |
Purity. |
| Lion |
Courage, strength, the Resurrection. |
| Obelisk |
Eternal life, from the Egyptian sun-worshipping symbol. |
| 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. |
| Shell |
Pilgrimage, the badge of the pilgrims who travelled to Compostella in Spain. |
| Ship |
The Christian church, symbolically carrying the faithful through the world. |
| Skull |
Mortality. |
| Snake |
With its tail in its mouth, symbolizes eternity. |
| Sundial |
Passage of time. |
| Sword |
Justice, constancy or fortitude. |
| Torch |
Immortality; upturned, symbolizes life extinguished. |
| Tree |
Life, regeneration and immortality. |
| Urn |
Draped and empty, symbolized 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 color and its association with churchyards. |
