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Many of you, like me, probably find that old cemeteries are interesting to explore. The first thing I noticed was the names that you don’t see often today (the woman's name Dorcas, for example). Then it was learning about the zinc headstones (Knock! Knock! They’re hollow!). Eventfually, I noticed that I was seeing some of the same symbols on headstones again and again. I came across a guide to cemetery symbols at a used book store, so I bought it and started looking up the ones I’d seen. Then I started taking photos whenever I came across them. Hmm… geocachers spend a lot of time in cemeteries… this should be a puzzle! :)
According to billiongraves.com, “The Webster Dictionary definition of symbols is ‘something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance.’ The key word in that definition is ‘suggests.’ In the end, a symbol is still a symbol. It represents whatever the person who designed it meant it to be, even though someone else may interpret it differently. Since we cannot speak to the people who commissioned the symbol on the stone or those who carved it, interpretations should always be considered possibilities, not certainties. That said, there are particular symbols that have come to have commonly accepted meanings through their repeated use.”
How to solve the puzzle:
Match the gravestone symbol photos with the descriptions. You will not use all of the descriptions provided -- there are a few extra ones. This is not meant to be difficult… it’s more a chance to learn a bit and spark your interest in the topic before your next visit to an old cemetery. :)
Once you have matched the photos with the descriptions, put the letters of the answers in order to match the photos. If photo #1 matches description A, and photo #2 matches description B, and photo #3 matches description C, and so on, then the string of letters you want to put into the checker will be formatted like ABC[and so on].
When you enter the letters in the correct order into the checker, you will be given the coordinates to where the cache is hidden. NO NIGHT CACHING. Please be respectful of the location and the neighboring homes.
The puzzle:
Photos of symbols on graves (taken by me, while caching, of course):
Descriptions:
A - Oak trees are very slow growing trees that can live to be 200 years old. They are symbols of strength, endurance, or eternity. Oak branches or leaves may mean the deceased lived a long life or endured a long illness, and the acorns may signify prosperity and fruitfulness.
B - Angels are some of the most common symbols found in cemeteries, signifying that the departed has taken flight into heaven. Weeping angels, with wings that droop in sadness, denote sorrow and lamentation. Angels in flight with a trumpet proclaim the gospel to all the world. Angels walking upright are ready to escort the deceased into heaven.
C - A book can represent the good deeds of the deceased, as recorded in the book of life; the scriptures, as a sign of faith; or the deceased’s profession as scholar or teacher. When open, it may signify an early death for someone whose life story was not yet fully written. Sometimes books and veils or curtains are seen together. A veil or curtain is a symbol of the passage from one type of existence to another.
D - A wreath is a circle with no beginning and no end, which represents eternity, or victory over death.
E - An anchor was sometimes carved on the gravestones of seamen since it was their last resort in a storm. More often, it was a symbol of hope. Those without hope may be like a ship tossed on the sea, their emotions being carried in every direction; it would remind family members visiting the grave to hold on to the hope of seeing their loved one again. To members of Freemasonry, it represented well-grounded hope, a life well-spent, and eternal tranquility.
F - A dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, or purity. If the dove has an olive branch in its mouth it is a symbol of peace.
I - A finger pointing upward is a very common cemetery symbol which indicates that the deceased’s soul has risen to the heavens, or a just and divine reward.
J - Arches on a headstone can signify a triumph over death and entry into heaven.
K - A compass and square together, often with the letter G (possibly for “geometry”) are a common Masonic symbol. The compass reminds Masons to circumscribe their desires and passions within specific limits, and the exactness of the straight edges of the square reminds Masons to behave with exact and precise virtue. If three linked chains are present, the deceased was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). The chains mean faith, love, and truth.
L - Frequently found on graves of women in the Victorian era, a rose is an ancient symbol of love and beauty often representing feminine figures such as Venus or the Virgin Mary. It may also signify perfection, especially in regard to physical beauty or other virtues; or truthfulness. Plant buds symbolize a life not yet in full bloom, most often seen on graves of children or young adults.
M - A finger pointing downward symbolizes God reaching down for the soul of the deceased.
N - A lily is a symbol of innocence, chastity, and purity, often associated with the Virgin Mary, seen on women’s gravestones. They can also represent innocence being restored to a soul at death.
O - Two hands clasped together, or a handshake, can mean a final earthly farewell, or an eternal bond between the living and the dead. Clasped hands were sometimes meant to portray the link between a married couple, especially if the two sleeve cuffs are indicative of male vs. female fashions.
S - A weeping willow would seem to suggest grief and mourning; however, in many religions it suggests immortality. It is often paired with other cemetery symbols, such as an obelisk or lamb. The obelisk was a popular Victorian grave symbol. Many obelisks were erected near funerary sites in Egypt. They are shaped like rays of sunshine and were a symbol of the god of the sun Re, who had the power of creation. So, obelisks in modern cemeteries represent God or the great creator, rebirth, and the spiritual connections between life and the afterlife.
T- A fern may represent humility, frankness, or sincerity.
U - Urns were used as a general funerary symbol to show mourning. Often an urn will be draped with cloth, which may be a reverential accessory, or may symbolize the final partition separating the living world from that of the dead.
W - Wheat or a sheaf of wheat represents the divine harvest. It can also represent a long and fruitful life enjoyed by the deceased (specifically, if they lived more than 70 years). It may also mean immortality and resurrection, or may have been used as a Masonic symbol.
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Sources, should you want to learn more:
Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography by Douglas Keister, c2008
https://blog.billiongraves.com/understanding-the-cemetery-symbols-on-your-ancestors-gravestones/
https://blog.billiongraves.com/understanding-cemetery-symbols-part-ii/
https://buffaloah.com/a/forestL/symbols/
https://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/3747.htm
https://laurelhillcemetery.blog/2018/06/28/cemetery-symbolism-what-do-those-mysterious-momuments-mean/
https://www.forestparkhistory.org/cemetery-symbolism.html
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Congratulations to Cayuga Crew on the probably-not-long-after-sunrise FTF!