It was another warm day but mom and I headed out to the cemetery in Berea and Winchester, Kentucky. There were a lot of people strolling through the cemetery grounds today. There were women sitting and talking. People were looking at the headstones. Pictures were being taken. It was nice to see people visiting loved ones and enjoying the experience. Cemeteries are oftentimes depicted as a scary place or a sad place to be. I find cemeteries restful, a reflective place filled with a sense of timelessness. I find stories that are carved into the headstones which gives me a glimpse of who that person was and sometimes their life experiences. The more I explore cemeteries the more I learn. Perhaps to many it is wasted information but it is my hobby.
When I started roaming cemeteries, I often wondered about the symbolism. What do the carvings mean? Is there a story there? Who are these people? That was when I started researching “headstones iconography.” I discovered there are stories and if you knew how to decipher the carvings, you can discover a basic understanding of who that person was.
I remember being confused about the fingers. Some were pointing up, some were pointing down, some had
sun rises carved in the background, and some were pointing to objects. I will be honest and say this; I thought the finger pointing down was not a good thing. Truth is the finger pointing down means “calling the earth to witness.” The deceased has been chosen by God. The finger may also be pointing to an inscription below. The finger pointing up symbolizes a pathway to heaven, a heavenly reward, or the soul has risen to heaven.
Of course, if there are fingers there are hands. Generally, hands are sometimes seen on tombstones simply holding things, such as flowers. Hands clasping hands typically signify union. The sleeves may be both masculine and feminine, indicating marriage. Hands praying are asking God for eternal life, prayer for the soul of the departed. Two hands with spread fingers are Jewish. The hand of God plucking a link of a chain represents God bringing a soul unto himself. Hands or a hand that are holding a chain with broken link symbolizes the death of a family member. Hands or a hand holding a heart is symbolic of charity. It is also seen on memorials of members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Hands or a hand holding an open book is the embodiment of faith.
Then there are household items carved into the headstone or the headstone itself is a statue of a household
item. Take a chair for example. An empty chair is a symbol of morality. A small, empty chair may indicate the death of a child, it symbolizes unfulfilled lives of children; represented the child now gone. With small shoes on the chair – connection to childhood, symbolizes the inability to achieve adulthood.
In several cemeteries, there are columns. Not only are they decorative but they have a meaning as well. Columns represent a noble life; a broken column represents life cut off and may represent the loss of the head of the family. There are three styles of columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Plain Doric columns can be associated with masculinity and strength whereas slender Ionic columns can be associated with femininity, scholarship, and wisdom. Do you want me to go into crosses?
It is fascinating. Crossed swords mean the deceased died in battle. A snake biting its tail is a symbol of immortality or everlasting life. A coiled snake indicates sin. Snakes usually in a curly 'S' position not coiled as in striking, means eternity. They were believed to keep shedding shins and growing as does the human shed the old and go to the new.
A rose does not mean love. It means silence. Only lately, Americans use it to reflect love but it was thought to mean silence and if you speak only truthfulness, it was used in confessional booths and at altars, so only the truth is spoken. That is why it was a sign on shields- a strong sign of conviction. Various types of roses mean different things, all means silence along with:
A double set of roses on one twig means death of two people. Usually a bud with the rose, a loss of a mother with a baby.
Dog Rose (single flat one) means Pain
Moss Rose - Melancholy
Large cabbage full rose -- all consuming life
China (tea) means - full bloom forever
Buds - on a child's grave -- virginity and innocence; on an adult’s grave - secrets
Wreath of Roses - Beauty and virtue rewarded in time
A fully opened rose may indicate that the deceased died in the prime of life.
The rose also signifies love (modern), beauty, and condolence.
A wreath of roses symbolizes beauty and virtue rewarded in time.
A rose bud symbolizes a life cut short and is most often found on the graves of children.
Enough said on this subject. I am in the process of putting this on my webpage. I will let you know when I do. I apologize now for any errors in spelling or grammar. I am not a writer I am a crazy lady that roams cemeteries.
Until later.
The reason for my title is Swastika means good fortune. Until Hitler changed its meaning.
When I started roaming cemeteries, I often wondered about the symbolism. What do the carvings mean? Is there a story there? Who are these people? That was when I started researching “headstones iconography.” I discovered there are stories and if you knew how to decipher the carvings, you can discover a basic understanding of who that person was.
I remember being confused about the fingers. Some were pointing up, some were pointing down, some had
sun rises carved in the background, and some were pointing to objects. I will be honest and say this; I thought the finger pointing down was not a good thing. Truth is the finger pointing down means “calling the earth to witness.” The deceased has been chosen by God. The finger may also be pointing to an inscription below. The finger pointing up symbolizes a pathway to heaven, a heavenly reward, or the soul has risen to heaven.Of course, if there are fingers there are hands. Generally, hands are sometimes seen on tombstones simply holding things, such as flowers. Hands clasping hands typically signify union. The sleeves may be both masculine and feminine, indicating marriage. Hands praying are asking God for eternal life, prayer for the soul of the departed. Two hands with spread fingers are Jewish. The hand of God plucking a link of a chain represents God bringing a soul unto himself. Hands or a hand that are holding a chain with broken link symbolizes the death of a family member. Hands or a hand holding a heart is symbolic of charity. It is also seen on memorials of members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Hands or a hand holding an open book is the embodiment of faith.
Then there are household items carved into the headstone or the headstone itself is a statue of a household
item. Take a chair for example. An empty chair is a symbol of morality. A small, empty chair may indicate the death of a child, it symbolizes unfulfilled lives of children; represented the child now gone. With small shoes on the chair – connection to childhood, symbolizes the inability to achieve adulthood.In several cemeteries, there are columns. Not only are they decorative but they have a meaning as well. Columns represent a noble life; a broken column represents life cut off and may represent the loss of the head of the family. There are three styles of columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Plain Doric columns can be associated with masculinity and strength whereas slender Ionic columns can be associated with femininity, scholarship, and wisdom. Do you want me to go into crosses?
It is fascinating. Crossed swords mean the deceased died in battle. A snake biting its tail is a symbol of immortality or everlasting life. A coiled snake indicates sin. Snakes usually in a curly 'S' position not coiled as in striking, means eternity. They were believed to keep shedding shins and growing as does the human shed the old and go to the new.
A rose does not mean love. It means silence. Only lately, Americans use it to reflect love but it was thought to mean silence and if you speak only truthfulness, it was used in confessional booths and at altars, so only the truth is spoken. That is why it was a sign on shields- a strong sign of conviction. Various types of roses mean different things, all means silence along with:
A double set of roses on one twig means death of two people. Usually a bud with the rose, a loss of a mother with a baby.Dog Rose (single flat one) means Pain
Moss Rose - Melancholy
Large cabbage full rose -- all consuming life
China (tea) means - full bloom forever
Buds - on a child's grave -- virginity and innocence; on an adult’s grave - secrets
Wreath of Roses - Beauty and virtue rewarded in time
A fully opened rose may indicate that the deceased died in the prime of life.
The rose also signifies love (modern), beauty, and condolence.
A wreath of roses symbolizes beauty and virtue rewarded in time.
A rose bud symbolizes a life cut short and is most often found on the graves of children.
Enough said on this subject. I am in the process of putting this on my webpage. I will let you know when I do. I apologize now for any errors in spelling or grammar. I am not a writer I am a crazy lady that roams cemeteries.
Until later.
The reason for my title is Swastika means good fortune. Until Hitler changed its meaning.
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