Every gravestone symbol and motif tells a story.

If you spend a lot of time in cemeteries, you will often start to notice the repetition of certain symbols. Throughout my travels, I have seen the shift in common cemetery symbols. What might be a common motif found in one area might be uncommon in another.

As I travel Ontario more frequently, I have noticed more and more anchor symbolism. So today on the blog, I wanted to look a little closer at this symbol, what it represents, and some of the examples I have photographed in my travels.

Sometimes anchors are found on the graves of sailors or those who have died at sea, but this is rare. The anchor is a Christian symbol and represents hope, steadfastness, and calm.

The symbolism is thought to come from passages in the bible, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” 

Saint Andrew’s Anglican Churchyard, Grimsby ON ©2023

“Those without hope may be like a ship tossed on the sea…”

You might also come across a female figure holding an anchor. The anchor signifies that this is Hope, one of the Seven Virtues.

The Seven Virtues are traits that some of those of the Christian faith aspire to. According to Tui Snider’s book Understanding Cemetery Symbols, this list of traits was created by Greek philosophers and then adopted by Christian scholars. Sometimes the virtues are labeled on the statue’s pedestal, but you must look closely at their design for clues.

Hillcrest Cemetery, Parry Sound ON ©2023

Have you ever found a unique version of an anchor symbol? I would love to read about your finds in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

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References:

• Understanding Cemetery Symbols: A Field Guide for Historic Graveyards by Tui Snider | Book
• Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism by Douglas Keister | Book