A presentation to be to introduce
students to some of the symbols
we see in heritage cemeteries
and the meaning of these
symbols to those living in
Victorian and Edwardian times.
The many historic cemeteries that dot our towns and countryside leave us
a legacy of history, art and culture, which today, we struggle to
understand.
These cemeteries are places where our ancestors and loved ones rest
and where we today can make contact with the past by observing and
coming to understand the beliefs, attitudes, and deeper meanings that are
embedded in the material culture and literature of the past.
Visual symbolism on graves has been present for as long as such
memorials have existed and use of such symbolism continues.
Naseby
Cemetery,
Central
Otago.
 The Lamb is often used in the
Bible and in prayer as a symbol for
Jesus as in the rosary prayer “Lamb
of God, take away the sins of the
world. Grant us peace.”
 In the Bible, Jesus is also called
the ‘The Good Shepherd.’ The
people of God are His sheep and
are in His care.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 Lambs on cemetery
headstones are commonly used
for the death of children. The
example on the lower left, bears
the simple inscription ‘Little
Mary’. Seaton, L. (2004).
Southern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Timaru Cemetery,
South Canterbury.
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
 Here a lamb is carrying a flag.
Banners also called standards
were once carried into battle for
victory.
 The lamb carrying the standard
symbolises the resurrection and
offers the promise of life after
death or victory over death.
Keister, D. (2004. p 144)
Barbadoes St Cemetery, Christchurch.
 The dove is a common
cemetery symbol. It can be seen
sometimes at rest, sometimes
flying and usually has an olive
branch in its beak.
 The story in Genesis, the
first chapter of the Bible, tells
of Noah sending forth the
Dove which returns with an
olive branch.
 The Dove is a symbol of
purity and peace and also a
symbol of the holy ghost.
Keister, D. (2004).
All examples - Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
This tableaux combines a number of Christian
religious symbols
 The roses represent the shortness of life.
 The dove of peace represents the soul
leaving for heaven.
 Gates represent a passage from one
realm to another. Gates are also symbolic
of the day of judgement. The open gates
signify that the soul has passed through
gates of heaven and beyond to peace,
paradise and eternal life.
 In a variation on this design, the dove
is sometimes replaced with an anchor.
Palmerston Cemetery, East Otago
Keister, D. (2004).
The butterfly is a relatively unusual symbol on
historic headstones that symbolises the brevity
of life. The cyclic life of a butterfly from humble
earth dwelling caterpillar to cocoon to
resurrection to beautiful butterfly also
symbolises life, death and resurrection.
Seaton,L. (2004) & Keister, D. (2004)
The butterfly is a more commonly used symbol
on graves today, especially of young
children.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
The daisy also indicates
the graves of children. It
is a symbol of the virgin
Mary and like Mary’s love
daisies can grow almost
any where.
Keister, D. (2004)
 The different parts of the unusual flower
of the passionfruit plant were interpreted by
Victorians to symbolise the crucifixion and
the suffering of Christ.
Both examples
from Southern
Cemetery, Dunedin.
 The central column of the flower represents
the pillar to which Jesus was tied to be
scourged or whipped. The thread like inner
petals represent the crown of thorns, the five
yellow stamens symbolise the five wounds of
Christ and the three pink styles the nails. The
ten outer petals symbolise the ten faithful
apostles.
 The passionflower is a symbol of faith
and belief that Christ, through his suffering,
was sent to save us. Seaton, L. (2004).
 The lily, is said to have been
originally created by the tears of
Eve as she was expelled from the
Garden of Eden.
The whiteness and fragrance of the
lily is a symbol for both the Virgin
Mary (Mother of Jesus) and others
who are pure in heart and who have
led blameless lives.
 Lilies are the traditional Victorian
flower of death and mourning.
Seaton, L. (2004)
Southern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 The lily the valley is
one of the first flowers to
bloom in the spring.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 The presence of lily
of the valley on a
tombstone symbolises
renewal and
resurrection, and a
return of happiness,
purity and humility.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Timaru Cemetery,
South Canterbury.
Greenaway, K. (1885).
Vines such as
convolvulus and ivy
are motifs commonly
used on headstones.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 Convolvulus is also known as bindweed
because it entwines itself around a support
and was a popular symbol of attachment and
affection. The Convolvulus flower closes at
night and opens again with the morning sun
and is also symbolic of the resurrection,
youth, the bonds of love and the brevity of
Seaton, L. (2004)
life.
 Ivy is an evergreen plant, and
extremely hardy. It is associated with
immortality and fidelity. Like
bindweed it clings to a support and is
symbolic of the ties that bind,
friendship and undying affection. The
three pointed leaves also represent
Seaton, L. (2004)
the Trinity.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Olive and oak
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Olive and
Glory Cross
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Cedar & Olive
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 The olive is representative
of the symbol of peace and is
commonly associated with the
dove.
 The olive tree is frequently
mentioned in The Bible and
often features on cemetery
headstones as a decoration
separate from the dove but in
association with other symbolic
motifs.
 The olive signifies fruitfulness,
purification, strength and victory. In
these examples the olive is
associated with the cypress
(meaning longevity, resurrection,
immortality) and the oak (strength,
endurance, eternity) and the Glory
Cross. Keister, D. (2004).
 Broken flowers usually denote
a life cut short and were often
used as a symbol for the death of
a child.
All examples from
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 The broken lily (right) is the
symbol used on the Fogo
memorial in the Northern
Cemetery in Dunedin. The Fogo
family had two lives cut short.
The Fogo’s young son died in
1875 aged 11 months. Twentyfive years later Sarah Fogo was
convicted of killing her abusive
husband and spent 11 years in
gaol for the crime. She died at
age 70 and was interred in this
plot with her husband and baby
son. The headstone probably
dates from around 1875.
Southern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 In Scotland a species of
thistle (Onopordum acanthium)
is honoured as a national
symbol.
 When invading Vikings,
under the cover of darkness,
decided to remove their shoes
for extra stealth. When one of
them stood on a thistle, his cry
alerted the Scots and they
defeated the Danes in the
ensuing battle.
Northern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Timaru Cemetery ,South
Canterbury.
 While the thistle is symbol
of all things Scottish it is also
associated with earthly
sorrow. The thorns symbolise
the crown of thorns worn by
Jesus during the crucifixion of
Christ. Seaton, L. (2004) and Keister, D.
(2004).
 The shamrock is often
proudly displayed on memorials
of those of Irish descent.
Old Cromwell
Cemetery, Central
Otago.
 The leaf was first used by St
Patrick to illustrate the
Christian idea of the Holy
Trinity – the father, the son and
the holy ghost.
 The plant most widely
considered to represent the
traditional Shamrock is a plant
called Trifolium dubium (the
lesser clover) known to the
Irish as seamuir bhui.
Seaton, L. (2004)
Timaru Cemetery, South
Canterbury
 The rose has been a much-loved
flower for many thousands of years
and is a very popular symbol in the
cemetery.
 For Christians the red rose
was a symbol of martyrdom, and
the white rose a symbol of purity.
 In Christian mythology the rose
in the Garden of Eden did not have
thorns, but acquired them on earth
to remind man of Adam and Eve’s
original sin. In Victorian and
Edwardian cemeteries the rose
can often be found on the graves
of women and without thorns.
 The rose is also the
national emblem of England
and was often used on
headstones with this meaning
Keister, D. (2004)
in mind.
Southern Cemetery,
Dunedin.
Arrowtown
Cemetery,
Central Otago.
 The fern is a very common
symbol found on headstones
in New Zealand as it was
adopted as the symbol of
remembrance for New
Zealand soldiers who served
and died in the Great War
(The NZEF) and later those
men who served and died in
the NZ Army in the Second
World War (The 2nd NZEF).
 The fern, a ground plant
that grows in the shady
recesses of the forest,
symbolises the human
virtues of humility, frankness
and sincerity. (Keister, D. 2004)
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
Akaroa Cemetery, Banks
Peninsula.
 Acanthus leaves are used as a
decorative feature under the
capstone for pillars (Corinthian
Columns) on buildings.
 They are also used in cemetery
memorials and often appear along
the top of a headstone resembling a
line of snails.
It is said that whoever wears the
leaves or has them decorating their
tomb has overcome Adam and Eve’s
curse referred to in the book of
Genesis. (Keister, D. 2004)
Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.
 The palm leaf is often
used as a geometric
decoration on capstones
and edgings for
classical style
monuments.
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
Palmerston Cemetery, East
Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.
 For ancient Romans
the palm symbolised
victory. Christians
adopted the palm which
symbolises the
Christian’s triumph over
death. Keister, D. (2004)
 Grape designs are very
commonly found, religious
symbols that represent the
fruits of the kingdom of
heaven, which the
deceased is enjoying.
 Grape designs often
feature in combination with
other religious symbols.
Grapes can also feature
with wheat and represent
the Eucharist – the body
and blood of Christ. Grapes
can also feature as a
clinging vine motif.
All examples Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.
Seaton, L. (2004).
Southern
Cemetery,
Dunedin.
 Headstones representing
tree trunks and cut branches
with ivy are quite common.
 A tree trunk devoid of
branches and canopy is
symbolic of a life well lived by a
much respected person and
perhaps cut short at a young
age.
 The tree of life headstone is
symbolic of a family of several
generations that branch off as
branches on a tree. (Betteridge, 2005)
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
Waipori Cemetery, Lake
Mahinerangi, Otago.
Resources
Resources used in the development of these slides
Betteridge, C. (2005). Conservation Plans: Northern and Southern Cemeteries. Unpublished
report for Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust of New Zealand.
Greenaway, K. (1884). Language of Flowers. This is a well known ‘dictionary’ of flower meanings
used by Victorians. The 1884 edition (with illustrations) is available as an online illuminated text at
http://www.illuminated-books.com/books/flowers.htm
Keister, D. (2004). Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography. Gibbs
Smith Publisher. Salt Lake City.
Seaton, L. (2004) Timaru Cemetery: Messages in Stone. A Guide to the meanings of the symbols
on headstones. South Canterbury Museum.
Tyler, L. (No Date). The broken lily and the grim reaper’s scythe: The iconography of Victorian and
Edwardian Gravestones in the Northern Cemetery. Presentation Notes. Director of the Centre for
New Zealand Art, Research & Discovery. University of Auckland.
Acknowledgement
Special thanks is extended to Fiona Hyland, Heritage Rose Society of Dunedin, for her help and assistance
with identification and meanings behind many cemetery symbols in Dunedin’s Northern Cemetery.