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Family History Documents and Artefacts => Graveyards and Gravestones => Topic started by: sarah on Friday 16 March 18 20:21 GMT (UK)
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Hello,
I have been doing a little project photographing gravestones and am interested in the Angels actions, where I live in Manchester they seem quite limited their favourite themes are as follows..
1. Putting a wreath on a cross
2. Reading a scroll
3. Holding an arm up to heaven
4. Holding flowers
5. Praying
Does anyone have any ideas on any symbolism of the angels ?
Sarah :)
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Although symbols used on gravestones may indicate a specific meaning see-
http://headstonesymbols.co.uk/ for examples
I would be very wary of imagining that was why it was chosen.
Monumental masons since at least the mid 19th century held style books with designs and symbols & verses that customers could browse through to “design” the required tombstone in a similar way as wallpaper would be chosen from a pattern book.
Cheers
Guy
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There was a certain symbolism,a pillar broken off represents a life cut short.
A vase or urn draped in cloth, Ivy twining round a pillar,etc all had their own meaning which I think will be explained on a site.
The Victorians were very into their monuments.
I walked my dog in our local cemetery most mornings,so many graves neglected most probably because no one of that family lives locally anymore.I only saw the ones alongside the paths but some were really lovely,well kept and with seasonal plants and flowers.
It is a pleasant walk,with so many birds singing and cheeky squirrels dashing about and other dog walkers to chat to,not lonely at all.Viktoria.
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Thank you Guy and Viktoria makes some interesting reading.
Regards Sarah
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Hello Sarah! Your query brought back memories of my Aunt's grave stone. As an infant, she died in the flu epidemic. Her stone features a lamb resting on top of it. Her parents were devout immigrants from Bohemia and Moravia. I have not seen another stone fashioned in this way, but, I am sure there must be others. Thanks for bringing this subject onto Rootschat! patrexjax
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I think a lot of people just base their choice on sentiment and aesthetics. Try the following links.
https://stoneletters.com/blog/gravestone-symbols
https://www.google.co.uk/search?num=30&newwindow=1&ei=nqWvWofbN4KUgQb5vpaoAQ&q=Amazon+symbols+on+headstones&oq=Amazon+symbols+on+headstones&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.3...45776.47849..48594...0....153.673.2j4..........1..mobile-gws-wiz-serp.......0i71j35i39j0i13j0i8i7i30j0i13i30j30i10.ol6N77OUrBc%3D
Martin
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I once visited the Church grave yard at Hartburn, Northumberland with family as we have ancestors from this place. We noticed that quite a few graves had a skull and cross bones on the memorial We have been told that this meant death by some sort of plague. ???
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There are some very interesting plague gravestones at Eyam in Derbyshire, worth a visit to see if you are passing through.
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I once visited the Church grave yard at Hartburn, Northumberland with family as we have ancestors from this place. We noticed that quite a few graves had a skull and cross bones on the memorial We have been told that this meant death by some sort of plague. ???[/
Perhaps, but often it symbolises man`s mortality, meaning we all must die.
WhenI was little there was a very old church not far from where we livedwe children played in the graveyard,there was a skull and crossbones over the church door,we kids thought it was a pirates
church,even though it was miles and miles from the sea!
Yes, Eyam is a very interesting place to visit.
The Riley graves in the little walled enclosure are particularly poignant.
Viktoria.
.
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I once visited the Church grave yard at Hartburn, Northumberland with family as we have ancestors from this place. We noticed that quite a few graves had a skull and cross bones on the memorial We have been told that this meant death by some sort of plague. ???
No a skull & crossbones was simply a reminder of our mortality in other words a memento mori symbol.
Cheers
Guy
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Thanks Viktoria and Guy for the information on the true symbolism of the skull and cross bones. I will pass this information on to other family members.
This makes sense as there are quite a few graves at Hartburn with this symbol on the memorials - yet I haven't come across any articles about plague at Hartburn. It was a local who mentioned 'plant's idea to us.
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This afternoon I went to Earsdon Cemetery in St Alban's Church grounds to research a stone for my family history.
On top of the memorial is a six pointed star and below this is a long inscription starting with the words: 'SACRED TO THE MEMORY' ...
Can anyone let me know what this star symbol might mean?
Thanks in advance of any replies.
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Six pointed is the Star of David and also shows the 6 attributes of God ‘power, wisdom, majesty, love, mercy and justice’ - could be a masonic grave from the link Guy gave us RTL
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Thanks for this very speedy response Sarah. Much appreciated. :)
Wow! That is very interesting information. :) I will have to investigate the Masonic theory further.
This is what I love about family history research - you find one thing out and then this can lead to further avenues of investigation. ;D
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But it's not necessarily a Masonic Symbol :)
'An equilateral triangle is one of the oldest Christian symbols, the equality of the sides and angles expressing the equality of the persons of the Trinity.
Two interwoven triangles forming a six-pointed star can also be used. This image has a theological message with special reference to the Creation: a six pointed star is an ancient symbol of creation, and using two interlacing triangles expresses the eternal nature of the Trinity'.
'How to read a Church' by Richard Taylor
A six-pointed star can also represent the six days of creation.
Alternatively, the monumental mason might just have thought that a star would look nice at the top of the stone and it might have no significance at all :D
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Thanks for this further information, Jen, about what the six point star may symbolise - or not. I do appreciate that you have taken the time to let me know more. :)
I think this sounds like an interesting book which you have mentioned. I will have to look out for this one and try to educate myself more regarding Churches.
This thread has made me more interested now on what is on grave stones - not just the inscription.
I have always really liked the Star of David symbol. :)
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The Star of David is also a symbol of Judeaism.
The identification of the term "Star of David" or "Shield of David" with the hexagram shape dates to the 17th century. The term "Shield of David" is also used in the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) as a title of the God of Israel.
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Thank you jaybeinz for your post. :)
I knew that the Star of David is also a symbol of Judeaism but I did not know that this only dates back to the 17th century. You learn something new every day on here! :)
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Thank you for bringing this interesting subject up. I will pay more attention to the symbolism when I visit my grand folks and parents graves. :)