The History Commission

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Comment by Paula Ann on September 10, 2008 at 8:30pm

Kip,
I liked your article "The Curse of the Bunnies." An interest grabbing title, too. I remember some of those bunnies, but I sure didn't know all that.

Comment by Kip Davis on August 30, 2008 at 11:15am

Funerary Art Pt. II


In the last article we discussed some of the more common symbols on the older headstones that you may see in the cemetery. If you are like me, the wonderful works of art will catch your eye and leave you wondering what each one means or who the person was. Ever so often when I’m out researching the cemeteries, I run into another person such as myself, who is into the art and history of the stones. It can be a very interesting hobby, especially if you understand the symbolism of the stone. Here are a few more:


Chrysanthemum:
Many of the older headstones will have a carved plant of flower. When you see one that has a chrysanthemum, you will know that this represents longevity, immortality, fullness, and completeness. This is because a chrysanthemum’s blooms last long into the winter.


Lily:
A lily is a symbol of innocence, purity, and virginity. It is used in much funerary art for the reason that it is the very first flower to bloom in the spring time. It represents renewal and resurrection.

Ivy:
Ivy will be seen on several of the old headstones. It is a plant that is eternally green, even in harsh climates. It is associated with immortality and fidelity. I’ve also clings to a support, which makes it a symbol of friendship and undying affection. If it has three leaves, it represents the trinity.

Wheat:
If you happen by a tombstone that has a sheaf of wheat, it denotes that the person buried there lived a very long and fruitful life. It is one of the most basic foodstuffs and is though of as a gift from God.

I hope this bit of information has answered some of the questions you may have had about the different symbols you run across in cemeteries.
More to come…

Comment by Kip Davis on August 30, 2008 at 11:14am

Funerary Art Pt. I


One thing I have always been fascinated with is cemeteries. I’ve always admired the wonderful works of art, especially that of the older stones. It seems like so much detail was put into each monument.

Recently, a representative from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program was in Augusta to lead a group of us on a history walk. When we reached the cemetery, she began to explain the different symbols on each stone and told what each meant. I was so fascinated by this that I decided to research more into it. Here are a few of the more common symbols that I have ran into:

Hand with one finger pointing up:
I’ve noticed this on several of the older stones. Most of them are white. The finger symbolizes that the soul of the individual has gone to Heaven.

Hands held together or hands shaking:
This was something that caught my eye. This symbolizes matrimony. You must look very closely at the sleeves on hands. One will usually appear feminine and the other masculine. If both hand appear to be of the same gender, it may represent a heavenly welcome or an earthly farewell.

An Anchor:
I have spotted a lot of these on the older, larger stones. Right away I assumed that this meant the person served in the Navy, but really wasn’t sure. As I looked into it, I found that the anchor represents Hope and is symbolic to Hebrews 6:19 in the Bible, which refers to hope being the anchor of our souls.

Not sure how many other people there are out there who have ever wondered about the symbols on the old headstone, but I hope this article helps out.
More to come…

Comment by Kip Davis on July 28, 2008 at 1:39pm

I am currently developing a list for my weekly history column called "History's Traveling Sideshow." It deals with strange and unusal happenings in history, from the scary to the funny and just plain bizzare.
If you'd like to be added to the list, shoot me a message with your email and I'll get ya right on it. :)