Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

Anchor/Ships -- Hope or Seafaring profession

Angel, Flying- Rebirth; Resurrection.

Angel, Trumpeting- Resurrection.

Angel, Weeping- Grief and Mourning.

Arch - Victory in death.

Arrow- Mortality.

Bird- Eternal life.

Bird, Flying- Resurrection.

Book-Representation of a holy book: i.e. the Bible.

A pair of Holy Books on Mormom (LDS) headstones indicates the Bibleand Book of Mormon

Three Holy Books on Mormom headstones indicates the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants -- all of which are scripture to the LDS Church.

Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates) - Nourishment of the soul; the church.

Bouquets/Flowers -- Condolences, grief, sorrow

Broken Column -- Loss of Head of Family

Broken Ring -- Family Circle Severed

Buds/Rosebud -- Morning of Life or Renewal of Life

Bugles -- Resurrection and the Military

Butterfly -- Short-lived - Early Death

Candle being Snuffed -- Time, mortality

Cherub -- Angelic

Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts -- Mortality

Columns and Doors- Heavenly entrance.

Corn -- Ripe Old Age

Cross -- Emblem of Faith

Crossed Swords -- High-ranking military person

Crown- Glory of life after death.

Cup or Chalice- The Sacraments.

Dove- Purity; Devotion.

Dove, Flying- Resurrection.

Drapes- Mourning; Mortality.

Flame or Light- Life; Resurrection.

Flower- Fragility of life.

Flower, Severed Stem- Shortened life.

Flying Birds -- Flight of the Soul

Fruits -- Eternal plenty

Full-Blown Rose -- Prime of Life

Garland or Wreath- Victory in death.

Grim Reaper- Death personified.

Hand, Pointing Up- Pathway to heaven; Heavenly reward.

Hands, Clapsed- The goodbyes said at death.

Hand of God Chopping -- Sudden Death

Handshakes -- Farewell

Harp -- Praise to the Maker

Heart- Love; Love of God; Abode of the soul; Mortality.

Horns -- The Resurrection

Hourglass- Passing of time.

Hourglass, Flying- Time flies.

Imps -- Mortality

Ivy -- Friendship and Immortality

Lamb- Innocence.

Laurel ---Fame or Victory

Lily or Lily of Valley -- Emblem of Innocence and Purity

Lion- Courage; The Lion of Judah.

Morning Glory -- Beginning of Life

Oak Leaves and Acorn -- Maturity, Ripe Old Age

Open Book/ Bible -- Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc.

Pall- Mortality.

Palm Branch -- Signifies Victory and Rejoicing

Pick- Death; Mortality.

Poppy -- Sleep

Portals -- Passageway to eternal journey

Rod or Staff- Comfort for the bereaved.

Rooster- Awakening; Resurrection.

Roses -- Brevity of earthly existence

Scythe- Death; The divine harvest.

Seashell- Resurrection; Life everlasting; Life's pilgrimage.

Sheaf of Wheat -- Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time

Skull- Mortality.

Skull/ Crossed Bones- Death.

Skeleton- Life's brevity.

Snake (Tail in Mouth)- Everlasting life in heaven.

Spade- Mortality; Death.

Stars and Stripes Around Eagle -- Eternal Vigilance, Liberty

Sun Rising- Renewed life.

Sun Shining-Life everlasting.

Sun Setting- Death.

Thistle- Scottish descent.

Thistles -- Remembrance

Tombs -- Mortality

Torch Inverted -- Life Extinct

Tree- Life.

Tree Sprouting- Life everlasting.

Severed Branch- Mortality.

Tree Stump- Life interrupted.

Tree Stump w/Ivy -- Head of Family - Immortality

Tree Trunk- Brevity of life.

Tree Trunk Leaning- Short interrupted life.

Trumpeters -- Heralds of the Resurrection

Urn- Immortality (ancient Egyptian belief that life would be restored in the future through the vital organs placed in the urn).

Urn with /Wreath or Crepe -- Mourning

Urn with Blaze -- Undying Friendship

Weeping Willow Tree- Mourning; Grief; Nature's lament.

Willows -- Earthly Sorrow

Winged Face- Effigy of the deceased soul; the soul in flight.

Winged Skull- Flight of the soul from mortal man.

Wreath- Victory.

Wreath on Skull- Victory of death over life.

Wheat Strands or Sheaves- The divine harvest.

From: http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/