Death Rituals-Cemetery Symbolism
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Archetype -According to Jung, archetypes are common mental pictures which all people have from birth, and which appear frequently in art and literature.  

Anchor-hope

Angel-rebirth; resurrection; protection; judgment; wisdom; mercy; divine love; often seen taking the deceased to heaven

Ankh-eternal life; peace; truth

Arch-victory in death; being rejoined with partner in heaven 

Arrow-mortality

Attribute -If you attribute a particular quality or feature to someone or something, you meant that you think that they have it. (i.e., Crown of Thorns with Jesus)

Beehive-domestic virtues; education; piety; faith; abundance in the promised land 

Bell-mourning

Bird-spirituality; eternal life; winged soul

Book-the divine word of one's accomplishments

Broken or draped column-grief; early death

Broken flower-terminated life

Burning flame-life or resurrection 

Butterfly-resurrection 

Caterpillar-metamorphosis; life

Celtic cross-faith and eternity 

Chain with three links-Trinity; faith

Clasped hands-unity; affection after death

Column-noble life  (war memorials use often)

Conch shell-wisdom; reincarnation

Cross-resurrections; faith

Crown-immortality; glory of life after death

Crown upon skull-triumph of death

Cup or chalice-the sacrament 

Cypress-hope

Device -an object or machine which has been invented to fulfill a particular purpose (i.e., eagle of the United States of America)

Dolphin-resurrection; salvation; bearer of souls across the water to heaven

Door-entrance to heaven

Dove-love; purity; resurrection; the holy spirit

Drapery or pall-mourning; mortality 

Eagle-courage; faith; generosity; contemplation; military 

Emblem -an object which is used to represent a particular person, group or idea  (e.g., dove is symbol of peace)

Eye-Humility

Eye of God-omnipresence of God; if enclosed in a triangle it represents the Trinity

Eye of Ra/Horus-sun/moon; life/death; protection against evil

Female figure-sorrow; grief

Finger pointing downward-calling the earth to witness

Finger pointing upward-pathway to heaven; heavenly reward

Fish-faith; life; spiritual nourishment

Flag-military; patriotism

Fleur de lie-perfection; light; life; royalty

Flower (general)-life's frailty; immortality; purity; Virgin Mary

Flying Bird-rebirth

Frog-world pleasure; sin

Garland-victory over death

Grim reaper-inevitability of death

Grotesque -any other fantastic representation of human or animal form taken to extremes of ugliness, caricature, or comedy. Most of the little knobby things you see on tombs -- ranging from little cherub heads to lions and mythical beasts are grotesques. 

Gun-military service

Hair, flowing-penitence 

Hands clasped-farewell; hope of meeting in eternity

Harp-hope

Heart (pierced by sword)-Virgin Mary; Christ; repentance 

Heart (flaming)-religious fervor 

Heart-love; devotion; sorrow; job; mortality; courage 

Helmet-military service; strength; protection

Horseshoe-protection against evil

Hourglass-passage of time; shortness of life; temperance 

Icon -a painting, usually on wood, of Jesus Christ, or of a person considered holy by some Christians, esp. in eastern countries 

Image -(1) any picture, esp. one formed by a mirror or a lens ; (2) an object made esp. from wood, stone etc. and used for religious worship

Isis-rebirth; the Virgin Mary

Ivy-fidelity; attachment; underlying affection; eternal life

Lamb-innocence; gentleness; humility

Laurel leaves-triumph 

Lily-purity; chastity 

Lily of the valley-rebirth; Virgin Mary

Lion-courage; bravery; strength

Lotus-purity; resurrection; perfect beauty; spiritual revelation

Meaning -importance or value

Memento mori-symbol of death and reminder of mortality 

Menorah-divine wisdom

Mistletoe-immortality 

Moon-death; rebirth; victory; sorrow of the crucifixion 

Mother and child-charity; love

Motif -A motif is also an idea that is used many times in a piece of writing or music.

Mourning figure-funeral image

Myrtle-undying love; peace

Naked figure-truth; purity; innocence

Oak-symbol of Christ; strength of faith and virtue; endurance

Obelisk-rebirth; connection between earth and heaven

Olive branch-peace; forgiveness; humanity

Open gates-afterlife; the soul entering heaven

Orb-faith

Owl-wisdom; solitude; warning of impending death

Pall-mortality; mourning

Palm-military victory; martyrdom; eternal peace

Pansy-remembrance; meditation

Pick-death; mortality

Poppies-eternal sleep

Pyramid-resurrection; enlightenment; spiritual attainment; eternal life

Rainbow-union; fulfillment of the promise of resurrection 

Ripened fruit-nourishment of the soul

Rod or staff-comfort to the bereaved 

Rooster-awakening; resurrection; courage; vigilance 

Rope circle-eternity

Rose-victory; pride; triumphant love; purity

Scallop shell-birth; baptism; resurrection; life everlasting; pilgrimage of life

Scarab-resurrection; transcendence 

Scepter-fortitude 

Scythe-death; cutting life short; the final harvest

Severed branch-mortality

Shamrock-Irish descent; holy trinity

Shattered urn-old age

Sheaf of wheat-old age; fruitful life

Shepherd's crook-charity

Sign -(1) a written or printed mark which has a standard meaning ; (2) a notice giving information, directions, a warning etc.

Skeleton-death; life's brevity 

Skull and crossed bones-death; crucifixion 

Skull-transitory nature of earthly life; penitence; morality 

Sleeping cherub-innocence

Smoke-vanity; futility of seeking earthly glory

Snail-laziness; sin

Snake (encircled)-everlasting life in heaven

Spade-mortality; death

Spider web-human frailty 

Star-divine guidance

Star of David-unity; transformation

Steps (3 tiered)-faith; hope and charity

Sun rising-renewed life; resurrection 

Sun setting-death

Sun shining-everlasting life

Swallow-motherhood; spirit of children; consolation 

Sword (broken)-life cut short

Sword (inverted)-relinquishment of power; victory

Sword (sheathed)-temperance

Sword-military

Swords (crossed)-life lost in battle  

Symbol -a sign, shape or object which is used to represent something else

Thistle-Scottish descent; earthly sorrow; defiance 

Torch (inverted)-life extinguished 

Torch-immortality; wisdom

Tree-life; knowledge; human fruition or frailty

Tree sprouting-life everlasting

Tree stump-life interrupted

Tree trunk-brevity of life

Tree trunk (leaning)-short interrupted life; mourning

Triangle-holy trinity

Trumpet-announcement of the resurrection

Urn-immortality; penitence

Violet-humility

  Weeping willow-mourning; grief; lamentations; sorrow

Wheat-body of Christ

Wheel-cycle of life; enlightenment; spiritual power

Winged face-soul in flight

Winged hourglass-fleetness of life; mortality

Winged skull-flight of the would from mortal man

Wreath-victory

Wreath of roses-heavenly job and bliss

Wreath of skulls-victory of death over life

Yin Yang circle-harmony; balance; birth and death