The History of Funerary Symbolism
Grave art and funerary symbolism can be traced back to ancient civilizations.
In ancient Egypt, for example, tomb carvings depicted the soul’s journey into the afterlife. It laid particular emphasis on ensuring that the person who had passed on was properly prepared for their next life. These hieroglyphs and symbolic representations on the tombs were believed to provide the spiritual protection needed for the journey.
Similarly, in ancient Greece, stele or stone slabs portrayed scenes of daily life, emphasizing a connection between the living and the dead.
However, it is the Victorian era that truly stands out for cemetery art. This era was marked by particularly high mortality rates and an almost morbid fascination with the afterlife. As a result, cemeteries from these times are laden with grave art with elaborate motifs and symbols.
Today, many of these funerary symbols remain a familiar and essential part of grave art, carrying with them the same meanings they did centuries ago.
Common Gravestone Symbols and Their Meanings
Gravestone art carries profound meaning and offers a glimpse into the lives, values, and beliefs of those who have passed on.
Some of the most widely recognized symbols include:
The Cross
The cross is one of the most well-known symbols in Christian funerary art. It represents the cornerstone of the Christian faith—redemption, resurrection, and eternal life. In Christian traditions, the cross symbolizes faith, an offering of hope for the departed and their family. Variations of the cross, such as the Celtic cross, hold additional meaning, often symbolizing regional heritage.
Angels
Angels are often depicted in grave art as figures of prayer or flight. These heavenly beings symbolize divine protection, guidance, and a safe passage for the soul to the afterlife. They are seen as the intermediaries between the mortal world and the divine and offer solace to mourners who may feel lost in their grief.
Angels also embody a sense of comfort and peace, conveying that the soul is in good hands and is journeying to a better place.
The Urn
Urns are rooted in ancient cremation traditions and symbolize mourning, death, and the transient nature of life. Draped urns, in particular, reflect the veil between life and death.
Roses
Roses, often found on gravestones, are symbols of love, beauty, and devotion. The rose represents the eternal nature of love, with its beauty surviving even in the face of death. A single rose may symbolize eternal love, while a withered or broken rose can represent a life that was cut short too soon.
The Sleeping Child and Lamb
Commonly found on children’s graves, these symbols evoke innocence, purity, and the brevity of life. Lambs are particularly prevalent in Christian graves, emphasizing gentleness and divine care.
Human Hands
The positioning of hands on gravestones often holds significant meaning. Clasped hands, for instance, symbolize eternal connection, unity, or farewell. They signify that even in death, the relationship endures.
Exploring Religious and Cultural Variations
Some symbols are deeply rooted in specific traditions and represent the unique beliefs about death and the afterlife in that culture.
Hinduism
In Hindu tradition, especially in Bali, funeral rites like Ngaben are rich in symbolic elements. Intricately constructed towers called bade and bull-shaped sarcophagi (lembu) symbolize the soul’s journey toward moksha — or liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Japanese Buddhism
While cremation is the most common funeral practice in Japan, Japanese families often maintain family graves. These serve as a lasting connection to the deceased and a place for ongoing ancestral worship.
A typical Japanese family grave, called a haka, includes an upright gravestone inscribed with the family name. They can also feature lotus flowers, symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and the transience of existence.
Judaism
Jewish gravestones often bear distinct symbols that convey faith and family identity. The Star of David represents the connection between God and humanity, while the menorah signifies faith and spiritual light. The image of a broken tree is a poignant symbol of a life cut short or the enduring legacy of a family tree. These motifs align with Jewish customs that emphasize respect for those who have passed on.
Indigenous Symbols
In some Indigenous cultures, gravestones are represented by intricately carved totem poles. Butterflies are also common, symbolizing transformation, the soul, and the fleeting nature of life.
The Role of Funerary Symbols and Grave Art in Mourning
Gravestones are more than markers for the departed—they are deeply personal expressions of love, loss, and remembrance. These symbols can offer solace not only to grieving families but also to entire communities.
Personal and Collective Symbolism
Gravestone symbols often act as a bridge between personal grief and societal values. For instance, in the Victorian era, symbols like weeping willows, with their drooping branches, embodied sorrow and evoked grace and resilience.
During global tragedies like the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, which claimed millions of lives, gravestones reflected collective grief. Symbols such as clasped hands or eternal flames became common, emphasizing unity, eternity, and hope.
Gravestone Art as Historical Record
Beyond personal loss, gravestone artistry also serves as a record of societal attitudes toward life, death, and the afterlife. Cemeteries become “living museums,” where symbols reflect the values and beliefs of a given era.
These motifs also highlight the religious and cultural diversity of societies. For example, Celtic crosses on Irish gravestones intertwine Christian beliefs with ancient cultural traditions.
The Role of Cemeteries in Healing
Cemeteries offer more than just a final resting place—they serve as peaceful spaces for reflection, healing, and connection. The symbols on gravestones, such as doves or olive branches, carry messages of peace, hope, and enduring love, reminding us that life continues in the bonds we share with others.
Rituals like lighting candles, laying flowers, or engraving personal symbols on gravestones help us express our grief and honor our loved ones. These practices provide a meaningful way to process our emotions while also creating lasting tributes that preserve the memory of those who have passed.
At Hollywood Forever, we honor the tradition of memorializing loved ones through personalized gravestone art. We help families customize memorials with meaningful symbols, quotes, or objects that reflect the individuality of their loved ones while keeping them connected to cultural traditions.
