Also called honeysuckle ornament.
Floral design, used esp in ancient Greek and Roman architecture and decoration, usually consisting of honeysuckle, lotus, or palmette leaf between two volutes. Used singly on antefixes (ornamental blocks concealing tile-ends at the edges of a roof), or as a run...
Drapery (also called pall) — A symbol for sorrow, grief, and mourning. Some believe that draping represents the collapse of the partition between life and death, while others believe it represents the shroud left after the soul departs the body. Drapes are seen in conjunction with a number of symbol...
The first three letters in the Greek spelling of Jesus are IHS. In the Middle Ages this was incorrectly interpreted as "Jesus Hominum Salvatore" or "Jesus Savior of Mankind". This interpretation has stuck, and the letters have thus acquired a greater significance than originally understood.
Cannon + Anchor
Commonly used in the 18th and 19th centuries to represent the deceased's seafaring profession. Also used, often wrapped in vines, to represent firm Christian faith.
The original meaning of this Egyptian symbol is not known. One suggests that it combines the male and female symbols of Osiris (the cross) and Isis (the oval) and therefore signifies the union of heaven and earth. It is usually portrayed in ancient Egyptian art in the hands of a deity As a hieroglyp...