Old Tombstone Carvings: The term "Relict" on a tombstone means that the woman was a widow at time of death, consort means that her husband survived her. "Cenotaph" engraved on a tombstone indicates an empty grave, with the stone erected in honor or memory of a person buried elsewhere - often erected in honor of a person lost at sea. Meanings of Carvings: Arches...........................Victory in Death Arrows...........................Mortality Bouquets/Flowers...........Condolences, grief, sorrow Buds/Rosebud................Morning of Life or Renewal of Life Roses............................Brevity of earthly existence Portals...........................Passageway to eternal journey Bugles...........................Resurrection and the Military Crossed Swords.............High-ranking military person Flying Birds...................Flight of the Soul Fruits............................Eternal plenty Garlands........................Victory in death Imps..............................Mortality Shells............................Pilgrimage of Life Thistles..........................Remembrance Tombs............................Mortality Trees..............................Life Trumpeters.....................Heralds of the Resurrection Willows..........................Earthly Sorrow Morning Glory.................Beginning of Life Butterfly.........................Short-lived; Early Death Full-Blown Rose..............Prime of Life Palm Branch...................Signifies Victory and Rejoicing Ivy..................................Friendship and Immortality Laurel.............................Fame or Victory Oak Leaves & Acorn........Maturity, Ripe Old Age Weeping Willow..............Emblem of Sorrow Corn...............................Ripe Old Age Sheaf of Wheat...............Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time Poppy............................Sleep Lamb.............................Innocence Dove..............................Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, Purity Cherub...........................Angelic Cross.............................Emblem of Faith Anchor/Ships..................Hope or Seafaring profession Broken Ring....................Family Circle Severed Broken Column...............Loss of Head of Family Torch Inverted.................Life Extinct Urn with Blaze................Undying Friendship Harp...............................Praise to the Maker Handshakes....................Farewell Hearts............................Soul in Bliss or Love of Christ Horns.............................The Resurrection Hourglass.......................Swiftness of Time Open Book/Bible.............Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc. Lily or Lily of Valley.........Emblem of Innocence and Purity Tree Stump w/Ivy.............Head of Family; Immortality Urn with /Wreath or Crepe..........Mourning Stars & Stripes Around Eagle......Eternal Vigilance, Liberty Hourglass w/Wings of Time.........Time Flying; Short Life Candle being Snuffed..................Time, mortality Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts.........Mortality Hand of God Chopping.................Sudden Death Winged Effigies...........................Flight of the Soul