So many times, I have been walking through a cemetery and noticed in the historic part many different carvings and wondered why someone would put that on a monument. Modern memorials are known for images that are individual to every family and mean something to that family. Monuments in the 1800’s were based mostly on religious meanings that we are unfamiliar with today, so what do some of these things mean?

• Anchor – Steadfast hope

• Angel of grief – Sorrow

• Birds – The soul

• Book – Faith, wisdom

• Three Chains- Order of the Oddfellows

• Cherub – Divine wisdom or justice

• Column – Noble life or Broken column means early death

• Dove – Purity, love, and Holy Spirit

• Finger Pointing Up- Hand of God or human hand could indicate the path followed to heaven, earned life everlasting or they have risen to heaven

• Garland – Victory over death

• Horseshoe – Protection against evil

• Hourglass – Time and its swift flight

• Ivy – Faithfulness, memory, and undying friendship

• Lamb – Innocence

• Laurel – Victory, fame

• Lily – Purity and resurrection

• Lion – Strength, resurrection

• Oak Leaves- Power or Authority

• Palms – Martyrdom, or victory over death

• Snake in a circle – Everlasting life in Heaven

• Crossed swords – Life lost in battle or broken swords means life cut short

• Torch – Eternal life if upturned, death if extinguished

• Tree trunk – The beauty of life

• Shattered urn – Old age, mourning if draped

• Weeping willow – Mourning, grief

Today some of these symbols have gone by the wayside and many memorials are now representations of individual families. At Dodds we are here to make sure whatever you want to represent your loved one will be achieved! That is why we are the creating lasting memories company!