From thousands of years ago, animal icon has been carved on headstones. Today, you can see them in most cemetery. Now matter how strange or surprising they are, each of them has special meaning. Although some rarely show up in contemporary funeral tombstone, others are frequently used. In this article, we would like to introduce some animal image that are popular as in today’s funeral culture.

1. Dog

when buying a pet memorial stone for their lost pets, customers that have dogs will request to engrave the image of their dog on headstone. In most cases, they will add the pattern of claw, as well. Now, this kind of gravestone is hot worldly. In comparison, dog icon is less used in human gravestone. In tradition, dog is the friend of human. They have high loyalty to their master. Thus, some people carve dog on their grave to express fidelity. Others has regarded dog as a member of their family. For them, the dog pattern on headstone is a sign of love and family affection.

2. Owl

Owl stands for wisdom. The view comes from ancient time when people in Greek think it is the embodiment of Athena who is the goddess of wisdom. In Greek mythology, owl severed the claw of the death goddess Lilith. But in the Middle East, it is related to death. In some eastern country, this kind of thought is popular. But today, the reason owl is used in grave is simpler. Because they are mysterious and beautiful. A white owl sculpture can make a great addition to tombstone.

3. Pigeon

Dove is a white bird. Therefore, they have a strong association with purity. This is regarded important in Christianity which think dove means holy spirit and soul. It is also considered as a symbol of affection. In some gravestones, the image of pigeon is always com in pairs. But the primary reason for its prevalence is that it has many good meanings, hope, love, peace, etc.

4. Bird

Bird has a wealth of meanings. If the pattern is dove, it will be painted white on memorial stone. However, the bird images on some headstones are not pigeon. They not refer in particular to other kinds of birds, as well. Bird is deemed as the token of freedom, which is accepted widely. It also has close tie with religion. In Christian, it is the messenger between god and human. Some people carve a number of birds on tombstone to show that they have many grandchildren.

5. Butterfly

Butterfly has been a well-liked element for decoration from ancient time. But as a tombstone icon, it has deep-seated meanings. Most headstones with butterfly image are made for children because butterfly symbolize a young died person. But since it is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar, i t also stands for resurrection which is important in funeral culture.

6. Bear

The sign of bear can be often seen in the cost of Arms of Berlin. The city select bear because that believe that Albrecht I, whose nickname is “the bear”, is the founder of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. But in modern society, more and more people accept bear as the decoration for grave for they favor the lovely and honest image of it. For this reason, most bear cemetery monuments are produced for children.

7. Dolphin

Dolphin has many meanings. Some people see it as a symbol of salvation. Others believe it is the bearer of souls to heaven. It even be endowed with the meaning of resurrection.

8. Horse

Horse is big and strong. So it is naturally related to power and vitality. It also mean courage and generosity. But since it is used for riding, it also means a long journey to heaven. In Middle Ages, a horse with a rider could be seen as the dual nature of Jesus, or an attribute of St. George, St. Martin, St. Maurice, and St. Victor, all of whom represented in Christian art on horseback.

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