Mourning Motifs, Symbols & Icons Commonly Seen on Old Tombstones SYMBOL WHAT IT MEANS Anchor Hope, Deceased was a seaman. Angels Rebirth, resurrection, protection, judgment, wisdom, mercy, Divine love. Female Angel with One Exposed Breast A young Mother Ankh Eternal life, peace, truth. Arch Victory in death, being rejoined with partner in heaven. Arrow Mortality. Baby Shoe Grave of an Toddler Beehive Domestic virtues, faith, abundance in the Promised Land, piety. Bell Mourning. Bible A Religious or Pious Person Bird Eternal life, winged soul, spirituality. Book The Divine word or one's accomplishments. Broken/Draped column Early death, grief. Burning Flame Life or resurrection. Butterfly Resurrection. Caterpillar Life, metamorphosis. Celtic Cross Faith and eternity. Chain With Three Links Trinity, faith, Odd Fellows. Cherub A young person who was to soon marry Child's Face with Wings Innocence; a life gone too soon Column Noble life. Conch Shell Wisdom, reincarnation. Cross Faith, resurrection. Crown Glory of life after death. Crown upon Skull Triumph of death. Cup or Chalice The Sacrament. Cypress Hope Daisies A child's lost innocence Dog sleeping A Faithful friend Dolphin Resurrection, salvation, bearer of souls across water to heaven. Door Entrance to heaven. Dove Love, purity, resurrection, the Holy Spirit. Drapery / Pall Mourning or mortality. Eagle Courage, faith, generosity, contemplation, military. Eye Humility. Female Figure Sorrow, grief. Finger Pointing Downward Calling the earth to witness- denotes deceased not Baptized Finger Pointing Upward Pathway to heaven, heavenly reward. Fish Faith, life, spiritual nourishment. Flag Military, patriotism. Fleur de leis Perfection, light, life, royalty. Flowers (general) Life's frailty, immortality. Flying Bird Rebirth. Frog Worldly pleasure, sin. Garland Victory over death. Gates of Iron The pathway to Heaven Grim Reaper Inevitability of Death. Gun Military service. Hair, Flowing Penitence. Hand, palm upward Accepting a hand into heaven; benevolent person Two Hands Clasped Farewell, hope of meeting in eternity. Harp Hope. Heart, Pierced by Sword Virgin Mary, Christ, repentance. Heart, Flaming Religious fervor. Heart Love, devotion, sorrow, joy, mortality. Helmet Military service, strength, protection. Horseshoe Protection against evil. Hourglass Swift passage of time, temperance. IHS Eternity (Christian symbol: "In His Service" Isis Rebirth, the Virgin Mary. Ivy Fidelity, attachment, undying affection, eternal life. Lamb Innocence (specially on a child's grave), Resurrection. Laurel Leaves Triumph. Lily Purity, sometimes chastity. Lily of the Valley Rebirth, Virgin Mary. Lion Courage, bravery, strength. Lotus Purity, resurrection, perfect beauty, spiritual revelation. Masonic Compass and Set Square Freemasons, uprightness, judgment. Memento mori Symbol of death and reminder of mortality. Menorah Divine wisdom. Mistletoe Immortality. Moon Death, rebirth, victory, sorrow of the crucifixion. Mother & Child Charity, love. Myrtle Undying love, peace. Naked Figure Truth, purity, innocence. Oak Strength of faith and virtue, endurance. Obelisk Rebirth, connection between earth and heaven. Olive Branch Peace, forgiveness, humanity. Open Gates Afterlife, the soul entering heaven. Orb Faith. Owl Wisdom, solitude, a warning of impending death. Pall Mortality, mourning. Pansy Remembrance, meditation. Pick Death, mortality. Poppies Eternal sleep. Pyramid Resurrection, eternal life, enlightenment, spiritual attainment. Pyramid with Eyeball Seeing the way to righteousness and resurrection Rainbow Union, fulfillment of the promise of resurrection. Rings - intertwined A married person Ripened Fruit Nourishment of the soul. Rod or Staff Comfort to the bereaved. Rooster Awakening, resurrection, courage, vigilance. Rope Circle Eternity. Rose Victory, pride, triumphant love, purity. Scallop Shell Birth, baptism, resurrection, life everlasting, pilgrimage of life. Scarab Resurrection, transcendence. Scepter Fortitude. Scythe Death, cutting life short, the final harvest. Serpent or Snake Denotes a Fear of Dying; Sin Severed Branch Mortality. Shamrock Irish descent, Holy Trinity. Shattered Urn Old age. Sheaf of Wheat Old age, fruitful life. Shepherd's Crook Charity. Skeleton Death, life's brevity. Skull & Crossed Bones Death, crucifixion. Skull Transitory nature of earthly life, penitence, mortality. Sleeping Cherub Innocence (usually on child's grave). Smoke Vanity, futility of seeking earthly glory. Snail Laziness, sin. Snake, Encircled Everlasting life in heaven. (Also called oroboros) Spade Mortality, Death. Spider Web Human frailty. Star Divine guidance. Star of David Unity, transformation. Steps, 3 Faith, Hope and Charity. Sun Disc, Winged Spirituality, everlasting life. Sun Rising Renewed life, resurrection. Sun Setting Death. Sun Shining Everlasting life. Swallow Motherhood, spirit of children, consolation. Sword, Broken Life cut short. Sword, Inverted Relinquishment of power, victory. Sword, Sheathed Temperance. Sword Military. Swords, Crossed Life lost in battle. Tetragrammaton 4 Hebrew letters Y, H, W, H spelling the true name of God Thistle Scottish descent, earthly sorrow, defiance. Torch, Inverted Life extinguished. Torch Immortality, purification, truth, wisdom. Tree Life, knowledge, the fall of man through sin, human frailty. Tree Sprouting Life everlasting. Tree Stump Life interrupted. Tree Trunk Brevity of life, number of broken branches can indicate deceased family members buried at that site. Tree Trunk, Leaning Short interrupted life, mourning. Triangle Holy Trinity. Trumpet Announcement the soul's entrance into heaven. Urn The body's return to dust in the final resting-place. Violets Humility. Weeping Willow Mourning, grief, lamentation, sorrow. Wheat Body of Christ. Wheel Cycle of life, enlightenment, spiritual power. Winged Face Effigy of the deceased soul, the soul in flight. Winged Hourglass Fleetness of life, mortality. Winged Skull Flight of the soul from mortal man. Wreath Victory. Wreath, of Roses Heavenly joy and bliss. Wreath on Skull Victory of death over life. COMMON TOMBSTONE ABBREVIATIONS AF & AM Ancient Free and Accepted Masons AOF Ancient Order of Foresters AOH Ancient Order of Hibernians AOKMC Ancient Order of Knights of Mystic Chain AOUW Ancient Order of United Workmen ALOH American Legion of Honor AUM Ancient Order of Mysteries - Masonic Order BPOE Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks BPOEW Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World CK of A Catholic Knights of America COOF Catholic Order of Foresters CTAS Catholic Total Abstinence Society CBKA Commander Benevolent Knights Association CCTAS Crusaders - Catholic Total Abstinence Society CSA Confederate States Army DAR Daughters of the American Revolution EBA Emerald Beneficial Association FAA Free and Accepted Americans F & AM Free and Accepted Masons FOE Free Order of Eagles GALSTPTR German American Legion of St. Peter GAR Grand Army of the Republic GLAUM Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Mysteries - Masonic Order GUOOF Grand United Order of Odd Fellows IHSV Red Cross of Constantine IOI Independent Order of Immaculates IOKP Independent Order of Knights of Pythias IOOF Independent Order of Odd Fellows ISH Independent Sons of Honor IORM Improved Order of Redmen IWW Industrial Workers of the World JAOUW Junior Order - Ancient Order of United Workmen JOUAM Junior Order - Order of United American Mechanics KGL Knight Grand Legion KM Knights Militant KC Knights of Columbus K of C Knights of Columbus K of FM Knights of Father Matthew K of H Knights of Honor K of L Knights of Loyola K M Knights of Malta - (Masonic) KMC Knights of the Mystic Chain KPC Knights of Peter Claver KP Knights of Pythias K of P Knights of Pythias KSC Knights of St. Columbkille KG Knights of St. George KSTG Knights of St. George KSTI Knights of St. Ignatius K of SJ Knights of St. John KSL Knights of St. Lawrence KSTM Knights of St. Martin K of STP Knights of St. Patrick KSTP Knights of St. Peter KSTT Knights of St. Thomas K of STW Knights of St. Wenceslas KT Knights of Tabor K of T Knights of Tabor KWM Knights of Wise Men KGE Knights of Golden Eagle KHC Knights of Holy Cross KKK Knights of Klu-Klux Klan KOTM Knights of Macabees KSF Knights of Sherwood Forest KT Knights Templar (Masonic) LAOH Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians LK of A Loyal Knights of America LOM Loyal Order of the M.O.O.S.E MOLLUS Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States MRA Royal Arcanum MWA Modern Woodsmen of America NOK New Order of Knights (KKK) OES Order of the Eastern Star OUAM Order of United American Mechanics PM Patriarchs Militant (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) POSA Patriotic Order of the Sons of America RMOKHSJ Religious and Military Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem RSTV Rite of St. Vaclara RSTV Rite of St. Vita RK Roman Knights SR Scottish Rite RAM Royal Arch Masons RO-AUM Rosicrucian Order (Masonic) SBCL St. Bonifazius Catholic Union SBL Society B. Lafayette SCV Sons of Confederate Veterans SAR Sons of the American Revolution SNA-AUM Shrine of North America (Masonic) SV Sons of Veterans TH Temple of Honor - Independent Order of Odd Fellows UCV United Confederate Veterans UDC United Daughters of Confederacy VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars WOW Woodsmen of the World 777 333 International Order of Knights and Daughters of Tabor