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Glossary of Symbols and Terms for Studying Cemeteries
SYMBOLS | POSSIBLE INTERPRETATION | TERMS | DEFINITIONS |
Angel, flying | Rebirth; Trumpeting–call to the Resurrection; Weeping–grief | AE | An abbreviation for Aetatis, or years of life |
Arch | Victory of life over death, or victory in death | B.P.O.E. | Benevolent Protective Order of Elks |
Bird | Eternal life. Birds in flight–flight of the soul | Catacomb | An underground network of chambers with recesses in which to place the dead |
Candle, flame | Life | Cemetery | A place for burying the dead |
Columns, Doors | Heavenly entrance | Columbarium | A vault with niches for urns containing ashes of the dead |
Crown | Glory of life after death | Consort | A husband alive at the time of his wife's death |
Dove | Purity, devotion | C.S.A. | Confederate States Army |
Figs, Pineapples | Prosperity, eternal life | D.S.P. (Latin) | Died without children |
Flower | Frailty of life. Severed blossom–mortality | D.V.P. (Latin) | Died in father's lifetime |
Garland | Victory | D.Y. | Died young |
Hand pointing | Heavenly reward | Epitaph | An inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried |
Heart | Love, mortality, love of God | Footstone | A stone marking the foot of a grave |
Hourglass | Time's inevitable passing | G.A.R. | Grand Army of the Republic |
Lamb | Innocence | Gravestone | A stone that marks a grave |
Pall, Pick, Spade | Mortality | Headstone | A memorial stone set at the head of a grave |
Rooster | Awakening, the Resurrection | H.S. (Latin) | Here is buried |
Scythe | Death; the divine harvest | I.H.S. | Greek spelling of Christ |
Shell | The Resurrection, life everlasting | Inter | To bury or put a dead body into a grave |
Skull, skeleton | Mortality | I.O.O.F. | Independent Order of Odd Fellows |
Sun setting | Death | Mausoleum | A large stately tomb |
Sun shining/rising | Renewed life | O.E.S. | Order of Eastern Star |
Thistle | Of Scottish descent | Obit | Died |
Tree | Life. Tree sprouting–Life everlasting. Severed Branch–Mortality | Obit Sine Prole | Died without children |
Vine | The sacraments | Plat/plot | A small piece of ground |
Weeping Willow | Nature's lament | Potter's Field | A place where unknown persons are buried |
Winged Face | Effigy of the soul of the deceased | Relict | A widow |
Winged Skull | Flight of the soul from mortal man | Sarcophagus | A stone coffin, often ornamental |
Wreath | Victory | Sepulcher | A place of burial |
Wheat Sheaves | The divine harvest | V.F.W. | Veterans of Foreign Wars |