Symbols -
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​WHILE THIS LIST IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL SYMBOLS USED IN MEMORIAL ART, IT SERVES AS A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SOME OF THE MORE POPULAR SYMBOLS FOUND IN CEMETERIES.
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​ AESCULAPIAN ROD:  A SERPENT AND STAFF THOUGHT BY MANY TO BE THE PROPER SYMBOL FOR DOCTORS INSTEAD OF THE WINGED CADUCEUS. 
ANCHOR:  HOPE; JESUS THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, TRADITIONAL MARITIME SYMBOL 
AXE: A VOW, CONSECRATION, DEFENSE 
BANNER:  TRIUMPH, VICTORY 
BEADS:  PRAYER 
BELL:  INVITATION, CALL TO WORSHIP 
BIRDS:  HUMAN SOULS 
BISHOP'S STAFF:  PASTORAL AUTHORITY 
BOOK:  THE BIBLE, DIVINE AUTHORSHIP, KNOWLEDGE, SCRIPTURE 
BROKEN COLUMN:  DEATH 
BUTTERFLY:  THE RESURRECTION 
CADUCEUS:  SYMBOL OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION (THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS DEPENDING UPON THE AREA OF SPECIALTY.) 
CANDLE:  JESUS CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, ALSO THE SYMBOL OF DEVOTION 
CANDLESTICKS (TWO):  JESUS’ QUALITIES AS BOTH GOD AND MAN 
CANDLESTICKS (THREE) OR THREE-BRANCHED CANDELABRUM:  THE HOLY TRINITY 
CANDLESTICKS (FIVE) OR FIVE-BRANCHED CANDELABRUM:  THE FIVE WOUNDS OF CHRIST 
CANDLESTICKS (SIX) OR SIX-BRANCHED CANDELABRUM:  THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION OR THE SIX HOURS SPENT BY JESUS ON THE CROSS 
CANDLESTICKS (SEVEN) OR SEVEN-BRANCHED CANDELABRUM:  THE CHURCH, THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, OR THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS 
CIRCLE:  ETERNITY, COMPLETENESS, PERFECTION 
CROSSED KEYS:  ST. PETER, GATES OF HEAVEN 
CROWN:  RANK, SOVEREIGNTY, ROYALTY 
CROWN OF THORNS:  THE SUFFERING SAVIOR,  A PASSION SYMBOL 
CROSS:  CHRIST AND HIS ATONING DEATH, CHRIST’S REDEMPTION OF FALLEN HUMANITY 
DOVE:  PEACE, PURITY, MEEKNESS, MODESTY, HUMILITY, THE HOLY GHOST, DIVINE INSPIRATION, INNOCENCE 
EAGLE:  CHRIST, HOLY BAPTISM, ST. JOHN 
FESTOON:  MEMORY 
FIRE:  MARTYRDOM, ZEAL, INSPIRATION, YOUTHFUL FERVOR, HELL, PURGATORY, SACRIFICE, PURIFICATION 
FISH:  JESUS 
FISH/THREE:  THE TRINITY 
FIVE-POINTED STAR:  THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST, THE STAR OF JACOB, DIVINE GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION 
FLAMING SWORD:  EXPULSION FROM EDEN, WITH SHIELD: ST. MICHAEL 
GRAPES:  THE EUCHARIST,  TWELVE BUNCHES: THE APOSTLES, CLUSTERS OF GRAPES ON A RUNNING VINE: JESUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS,  THE CHURCH, UNITY 
HAND:  ISSUING FROM CLOUDS:  THE FATHER 
HARP:  JOY, MUSIC, SYMBOL OF ST. CECILIA PATRON SAINT OF MUSICIANS, ASSOCIATED WITH DAVID AND WORSHIP, WORSHIP IN HEAVEN 
HEART:  CHRISTIAN CHARITY, SURMOUNTED BY A FLAME: INTENSE ZEAL OR DEVOTION 
LAMB:  INNOCENCE, PURITY, SACRIFICE, CHRIST 
LAMP:  KNOWLEDGE, TRUTH, ENLIGHTENMENT, WORD OF GOD, GOOD WORKS, DIVINE INSPIRATION 
PASTORAL STAFF:  AUTHORITY 
PIERCED HEART:  WITH A LANCE OR SPEAR, A PASSION SYMBOL 
PLENTY, HORN OF:  THE LORD'S BOUNTY, THANKSGIVING 
POMEGRANATE:  THE RESURRECTION, IMMORTALITY, ROYALTY, FERTILITY, THE CHURCH 
PYRAMID:  LIGHT, STRENGTH 
RAINBOW:  PROMISE 
RAM:  SACRIFICE 
ROD:  OFFICIAL POWER, ALSO A PASSION SYMBOL 
ROPE:  A PASSION SYMBOL, JUDAS' DEATH 
ROSARY:  PRAYER 
ROSE:  LOVE, CHRIST, THE NATIVITY. 
ROSETTE:  AN ORNAMENT IN THE FORM OF A CONVENTIONAL ROSE OR OTHER DESIGN OF CIRCULAR FORM, USED AS A DECORATION 
SCALLOP SHELL:  BAPTISM, THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST, CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE, AND MARINE AFFAIRS 
SCYTHE:  DEATH 
SERPENT:  DEATH, WISDOM 
SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS:  THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR 
SEVEN-BRANCHED CANDLESTICK:  THE CHURCH, THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR, THE SEVEN ANGELS OF THE APOCALYPSE, THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE SHEEP, CHRISTIANS
TWELVE SHEEP: THE TWELVE APOSTLES, SHEEP AND GOATS:  THE REDEEMED AND THE LOST 
SHIELD:  FAITH, PROTECTION 
SHELLS:  CHRISTIANITY 
SHEPHERD’S CROOK:  AUTHORITY, DOMINION 
STAFF:  RELIGIOUS JURISDICTION, KINDNESS, SHEPHERD-LIKE QUALITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
STAR:  CHRIST, LIFE
SWORD:  POWER, JUSTICE, AUTHORITY, MARTYRDOM
TRIANGLE:  TRINITY
TRUMPET:  CALL TO WORSHIP, CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, JUDGMENT DAY, RESURRECTION
URN:  DEATH, SORROW (DRAPED)
WINGS:  ASPIRATION, FLIGHT OF THE GOSPEL FLOWERS -
WHILE THIS LIST IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL FLOWERS, TREES AND OTHER PLANTS USED IN MEMORIAL ART, IT SERVES AS A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SOME OF THE MORE POPULAR SYMBOLS FOUND IN CEMETERIES. APPLE:  THE FALL OF MAN, SIN, EVE, DISCORD, VIRGIN MARY 
APPLE BLOSSOM:  FAME 
AZALEA:  TEMPERANCE 
CALLA LILY:  SYMPATHY, ZEAL 
CLOVER:  INDUSTRY 
CORNUCOPIA/HORN OF PLENTY:  BOUNTY, BLESSINGS, THANKSGIVING 
CULTIVATED ROSE:  EVERLASTING LOVE 
DAISY:  THE CHRIST CHILD'S INNOCENCE, YOUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, INNOCENCE 
DOGWOOD:  CRUCIFIXION 
EASTER LILY:  RESURRECTION 
GRAPE:  CHARITY 
GRAPE VINE:  THE EUCHARIST, THE CHURCH, UNITY, CHRIST AND HIS FOLLOWERS 
HOLLY:  CHRISTMAS 
IRIS:  GOD-LIKE QUALITIES, ELOQUENCE, A MESSAGE, PROTECTION 
IVY:  MEMORY, REMEMBRANCE, FAITHFULNESS, FRIENDSHIP, (OFTEN SEEN WITH OAK) 
LAUREL WREATH:  TRIUMPH, VICTORY, DISTINCTION, REWARD, GOOD REPORT 
LILY:  EASTER, RESURRECTION, THE VIRGIN MARY, PURITY 
LILY OF THE VALLEY:  THE VIRGIN MARY, HUMILITY, PURITY, RETURN OF HAPPINESS 
MORNING GLORY:  RESURRECTION, YOUTH, PROMISE, BONDS OF LOVE AND AFFECTION 
OAK:  STRENGTH, VIRTUE, CHARACTER, ETERNITY, ENDURANCE, FORGIVENESS, INDEPENDENCE (OFTEN SEEN WITH IVY) 
OLIVE BRANCH:  PEACE, VICTORY 
ORANGE BLOSSOM:  MATRIMONY, CHASTITY, PURITY 
PALM:  VICTORY, ETERNAL PEACE, HEAVENLY REWARD, SUCCESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, MARTYRDOM, VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH 
PAPYRUS:  LOVE 
PASSION FLOWER:  CRUCIFIXION, PASSION OF CHRIST 
PINE:  ETERNITY, EVERLASTING LIFE 
PINEAPPLE:  FRIENDSHIP, HOSPITALITY 
PINE CONE:  FERTILITY, REGENERATION, HEALING 
POINSETTIA:  CHRISTMAS, BIRTH OF HOPE 
POMEGRANATE:  RESURRECTION, IMMORTALITY, ROYALTY, ETERNITY, THE CHURCH 
POPPY:  SLEEP, CONSOLATION, REST 
ROSE:  LOVE, CHRIST, NATIVITY, JOY, MARTYRDOM 
ROSETTE:  DECORATIVE FORM OF ROSE IN A CIRCLE 
SUNFLOWER:  ADORATION, GLORY, THE SOUL TURNING TO CHRIST 
THISTLE:  INDEPENDENCE, AUSTERITY, SIN, THE FALL OF MAN 
TULIP:  LOVE, CHARITY, DECLARATION OF LOVE, ARDENT AFFECTION 
VIOLETS:  MODESTY, HUMILITY, GRACIOUSNESS, AFFECTION, FAITHFULNESS, SWEETNESS, LOYALTY 
WHEAT:  RICHES, THANKSGIVING, LIFE, BREAD OF LIFE, BODY OF CHRIST 
WHEAT/BROKEN:  DEATH 
WHEAT/BUNDLE:  HARVEST, BOUNTY 
WILD ROSE:  LOVE, CHRIST, MESSIANIC PROMISE