| 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 |
