What goes on the back of a tombstone?

A short message referred to as an epitaph is usually added to a headstone along with a person’s name, birth date, and death date. Typically, the goal of the epitaph is to leave some words of wisdom, share the most important values of the deceased, or summarize the person’s life.

What do symbols on gravestones mean?

A hand with the index finger pointing upward symbolizes the hope of heaven, while a hand with forefinger pointing down represents God reaching down for the soul. Seen as an important symbol of life, hands carved into gravestones represent the deceased’s relationships with other human beings and with God.

What does a hand pointing up on a gravestone mean?

Hands are found on many gravestones. It may be the hand of God pointing downward signifying mortality or sudden death. The hand of God pointing upward signifies the reward of the righteous, confirmation of life after death. Praying hands signify devotion.

What does wheat mean on a gravestone?

It symbolizes immortality and resurrection. But, like many symbols found on gravestones, they can have more than one meaning. For instance, the sheaf of wheat can represent the Body of Christ. Wheat can also represent a long life, usually more than three score and ten, or seventy years.

What does a broken chain on a headstone mean?

The epitaph on the gravestone is “UNITED ABOVE.” Like much of the funerary art, the broken link of a chain represents the life that was ended. The message being conveyed is that death separates us, the circle of life is broken here on Earth, but we will be re-united in Heaven. UNITED ABOVE.

What do clovers mean on a grave?

The three leaves of the clover represent the Trinity–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Indiana. The four-leaf clover is not a commonly seen gravestone symbol. The four-leaf clover is universally recognized as a symbol of good luck.

What does skull and crossbones mean on a gravestone?

symbol of death

A skull and crossbones is a symbol consisting of a human skull and two long bones crossed together under or behind the skull. The design originated in the Late Middle Ages as a symbol of death and especially as a memento mori on tombstones.

What is the spiritual meaning of wheat?

It is one of those few crops that have driven away hunger; it has been the symbol of prosperity and blessing since the beginning of human civilizations. Wheat as a symbol of growth and hard work.

What does a sideways cross on a tombstone mean?

Sideway crosses are even engraved in tombstones and graves to symbolize resurrection of the soul during the coming of Judgment Day.

What does a snake in the grave mean?

Lamb: Often a symbol of innocence and youth, it’s used predominantly on the graves and urns of children. Snake: Or, serpent, this animal, despite its nefarious reference in the Bible, has come to represent eternity and rebirth.

What does an upside down torch mean?

death

TORCH WITH FLAME (INVERTED) – The inverted torch represents death or a life extinguished. The inverted torch with the flame still burning represents the death of the flesh, but the eternal life of the soul.

Why are obelisks in cemeteries?

Obelisks became popular gravestone motifs in 19th-century Britain due to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1801 and the English occupation of Egypt. To ancient Egyptians, obelisks were petrified rays of sunlight where the sun god Ra lived. In graveyards they symbolise ancient godliness, greatness.

What does a weeping willow mean on a gravestone?

For these reasons and more, people often associate willows with immortality and, when used on a tombstone or gravemarker, weeping willow trees can symbolize life after death, the resurrection of the soul, etc.

What does pointing up to the sky mean?

Meaning: A Finger Pointing Up to the Sky
Generally, hands and/or fingers are associated with creativity, power, war, etc., and many death-related superstitions naturally involve the hand(s).

What does two fingers and a thumb mean?

The gesture uses a thumb wedged in between two fingers. This gesture is most commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request.

What does thumb between index and middle finger mean?

Nothing more than a fist with the thumb poking out from between the index and middle fingers, the mano fico (literally “fig hand”) is a gesture of Roman origin, used as a positive gesture to encourage good luck and fertility, and ward away the ‘evil eye’.

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