Research guide
Interpreting Tombstone Engravings
A short history of tombstone design from the 18th century through the Victorian era, with a reference list of common tombstone symbols and their traditional meanings.
Although monuments to the dead have been around in one form or another for thousands of years they have until modern times traditionally been reserved for the wealthy. The modern custom of erecting ornately carved tombstones over the graves of common folk is a relatively new development that came about in the 18th century. Before then most people could not afford to invest in such a frivolous expense.
The first modern tombstones were often made of limestone or sandstone. Sandstone being cheaper and more easily carved then granite. The decoration of these stones was also quite different and dare I say inappropriate by later standards. Skulls and skeletons were common as well as things like trumpet blowing flying cherubs accompanied by long winded and flowery epitaphs expounding the virtues of the dead.
The Victorian area put an end to the less formal view of tombstones design. The sandstone was replaced by granite, and for those that could afford it marble. The skulls and skeletons were replaced with more gentle images like Angels and lambs. The long winded epitaphs were replaced by the use of subtle images, each with a meaning of its own. The Victorians in many ways embraced death much more readily then we do today. A funeral was a social event and a time to show off the prosperity of the family and by extension the size and grandeur of monuments became very important.
Today's tombstones are generally much smaller and of simple design reflecting our current culture of denying death and trying to make it as least visible as possible. If current trends continue the tombstone may very well vanish into history.
The following is a short tombstone database of some of the more common images and there meanings found on tombstones. It should be noted that meaning of many of the images are open to interpretation and debate.
- Anchor/Ships ~ Hope or Seafaring profession.
- Angel, Flying ~ Rebirth or Resurrection.
- Arrow ~ Mortality.
- Bed ~ The deathbed.
- Birds Flying ~ Flight of the Soul.
- Book ~ Everlasting Faith.
- Circle ~ Eternity.
- Column ~ Mortality.
- Cross ~ Christianity.
- Crown ~ Heavenly reward.
- Dove ~ The soul.
- Flame or Light ~ Life or Resurrection.
- Fruits ~ Eternal plenty.
- Gates ~ Heaven.
- Grim Reaper ~ Death personified.
- Heart ~ Love.
- Harp ~ Praise to the Maker or Ireland.
- Hourglass ~ The passage of time and life.
- Ivy ~ Friendship.
- Lamb ~ Innocence. often seen on the graves of children.
- Obelisk ~ Eternal life and Strength.
- Pyramid ~ Eternity.
- Rocks ~ Strength.
- Skull ~ Mortality.
- Skeleton ~ Life's brevity.
- Sundial ~ The passage of time.
- Sword ~ Justice and fortitude.
- Torch ~ Immortality.
- Urn ~ Mortality.
- Willow ~ Grief.