Cemetery Symbolism Part 3: GEOMETRIC SYMBOLISM

Cemetery Symbolism Part 3: GEOMETRIC SYMBOLISM

So far we have seen Animals and humans represent all kinds of positive human attributes, religious meaning and general life purpose, but there is also a great deal of symbolism through geometry, squares, triangles, circles and stars can all hold meaning to different people for different reasons

GEOMETRIC SYMBOLISM:

Geometric forms are commonly found on grave memorials:

Circle - The circle is pre-Christian and its original symbolic meaning has been adopted by Christianity. It is universally known as the symbol of eternity and never-ending existence. Extremely common on grave sites, its usual representation is a cross surrounded by a circle. Two circles, one above the other, represent earth and sky. Three interconnected circles represent the Holy Trinity.

Latin Cross surrounded by circle or oval - representing eternity or never-ending existence.

Cross - The ties between all religious beliefs and symbolism have always been strong. To the Christians, the greatest symbolic message is in the crucifix. The crucifix or cross can generate many symbolic messages ranging from love, faith and goodness to terror and fear (e.g. the Ku-Klux-Klan’s use of the burning cross). There are many different types of Christian crosses worldwide, but only a handful are common in North America.

Botonee Cross - So named because of its modified trefoil (three-lobed) ends, represents the Trinity.

Calvary Cross - A Latin cross standing on three steps or blocks, it signifies faith, hope and love. Love is sometimes replaced by charity.

Celtic Cross - The circle around the crosspiece symbolises eternity. Its origin can be traced to the Celtic cultures of the British Isles. There is a legend of how St. Patrick when preaching to some soon to be converted heathens was shown a sacred standing stone that was marked with a circle that was symbolic of the moon goddess. Patrick made the mark of a Latin cross through the circle and blessed the stone making the first Celtic Cross.

Eastern Cross - Used in Orthodox (Russian/Greek) Christian Religions, this cross upper horizontal shoulder representing the inscription over the head of Jesus. The lower slanting shoulder represents the footrest of the crucified Jesus.

Fleurie Cross/Gothic Cross - This flowered cross symbolises the adult Christian by its more opened flared out ends

Greek Cross - It has four arms equal in length and is the traditional symbol of Christian faith. The equal length drawings of the cross are pre-Christian, and in paganism, represented the four elements—earth, air, fire and water.

Ionic Cross - Similar to the Celtic Cross, it ends flair outward. The ionic cross signifies everlasting salvation, love and glory. The circle around the crosspiece symbolises eternity.

Latin Cross - One of the oldest symbols of Christianity and the most commonly used form, it is also the simplest in design. In early times, it was called god's mark

Triangle/Trefoil/Triquetra - In Christianity, the equilateral triangle is the symbol of the Trinity. Other geometric shapes representing the Holy Trinity are the trefoil, the triquetra, the circle within the triangle, the triangle in a circle and the triquetra and circle. To the ancient Egyptians, the triangle was an emblem of Godhead; to the Pythagoreans, it symbolised wisdom. Another use of the triangle is in the symbol of the eye (eye of God) surrounded by a triangle.

Square - It represents the earth and earthly existence. Some monuments have a cube or square inverted to point the corners downward and upward. This illustrates earthly existence and the directions of earth and heaven.

The Eye of God surrounded by a triangle and a circle - symbolic of the eternity of the Holy Trinity.

Pentagram - This is a five-pointed, star-shaped figure made by extending the sides of a regular pentagon until they meet. This figure pre-dates Christianity and was first known to be used by Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher. Later in the Middle Ages, the pentagram was used by magicians and sorcerers. It was believed that the pentagram offered protection against evil. Christianity adopted the figure and the symbolism to suggest the five wounds suffered by Christ on the cross. It is interesting to note that the pentagram is used by both Christianity and Wicca (witchcraft).

Pyramid - Eternity. It was supposed that a pyramid-shaped tombstone prevented the devil from reclining on a grave.

Star - A five-pointed star is symbolic of the life of Christ and may also represent the five wounds of Christ.

Five-pointed pentagram star - This star is drawn with one stroke of the pen. Its exact origin is unknown, and its meaning has changed throughout the ages. The pre-Christian Celtic priests called it the witch's foot. It is also called Solomon's Seal and was known in the Middle Ages as the goblin's cross. Today the symbol is a favourite among graffiti artists and so-called demonology practitioners. Like the Pentagon, it is believed to have protective powers against evil. In Wicca beliefs, it represents protection against demons and a symbol of safety. The ancient Babylonians used the symbol as a magic charm. The five-pointed pentagram star represents the five senses. To the Jews, it represents the five mosaic books. This symbol has also been adopted by Masonic organisations (e.g., the Eastern Star).

The Star of David - Six-pointed star or Star of David, also known as Magen David (Hebrew for a shield of David), it is typically used as a

symbol of Judaism. The star is actually made of two triangles. It signifies divine protection as epitomised by the alchemistic signs for fire and water which are an upward and downward apex triangle. The star is a very ancient symbol, used by several Asia Minor cultures, as well as some Greek city-states. For Judaism, the Star of David came into widespread use at the beginning of the 20th century. Theodore Hertzel, a Jewish activist, adopted the symbol in his writings promoting Palestine as a Jewish homeland.

Menorah or seven-branched candlestick - Jewish symbol for the divine presence of God. The seven branches of the candlestick represent the seven days for the creation of the world by God.

Swastika - Exact origin is unknown but it is considered one of the oldest and widespread symbols used. Commonly found on Buddhist memorials, it represents the seal of the Buddha’s heart; the doctrine of Buddha; the round of existence. To the Chinese, the swastika had two forms symbolising the male and female; clockwise and anti-clockwise. Also used by the Romans and later by the Nazi party in Germany during the Second World War.

Cemetery Symbolism Part 2: Body Parts

Cemetery Symbolism Part 2: Body Parts

It's not just animals that are used to represent the positive aspects of humanity, but human body parts too, some represent the bond between lovers, other represent the place one holds in the family line, other's represent the Angels and God himself.

BODY PARTS:

Arms outstretched - the plea for mercy.

Eye of God/All-Seeing Eye - The Eye of God or the All-Seeing Eye symbolises the all-knowing and ever-present God. During the Renaissance period in Europe, it was common to illustrate the Eye of God surrounded by a triangle (the Holy Trinity). The eye within the triangle, surrounded by a circle and radiating rays of light is used to symbolise the holiness of the true God.

Hands -  The use of hands in some form is very common on grave memorials.
Symbol of leaving.

Hands, clasped - At first glance, these hands all seem to be in the same fashion but a number of interesting characteristics stand out. First, most of the hands illustrate the right hand in a grasp with fingers overlapping the other hand while the left hand is open. This could be the depiction of a man holding a woman's hand and indicate marriage or a close bond between individuals, unity and affection even after death.

Clasped hands are also symbolic of a farewell or last good-bye. Look at the cuff to distinguish between a man's or woman's hand (the woman would have a frilly cuff.) The person who died first holds the other's hand, guiding the spouse to heaven.

Hand of God plucking a link of a chain represents God bringing a soul unto himself.

Hands holding:

•   A chain with a broken link symbolises the death of a family member.
•   A heart - symbolic of charity and is common on 19th-century memorials. It is typically seen on memorials of members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Charity
•  An open book - the embodiment of Faith

Hand pointing:

• Downward - mortality or sudden death. (Possibly a depiction of a secret Masonic handshake.)
• Upward - the reward of the righteous, confirmation of life after death. Heavenly reward, ascension to heaven.
• Hands praying can connote devotion
• Two hands touching at thumbs - The hands are making the "Live long and prosper" gesture that Mr Spock used on Star Trek (Leonard Nimoy is Jewish, and that's where he got it). The Cohen was the priestly caste. They perform a few specific functions in Orthodox Judaism, and have a few unique restrictions: they are not supposed to remarry or touch a dead body, for example. People who are Cohen often have Cohen as their last name, This is the hand gesture made by Cohen at the end of services in Orthodox synagogues, it's a benediction and had come to universally represent Cohens.

Heart - Love, mortality, love of God, courage and intelligence.

Bleeding - Christ's suffering for our sins.

Encircled with thorns - the suffering of Christ.

Flaming - signifies extreme religious fervour

Pierced by a sword - the Virgin Mary, hearkening to Simeon's prophecy to Mary at the birth of Christ, "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul." It can also be used to represent charity.

Cemetery Symbolism Part 1: Animals

Cemetery Symbolism Part 1: Animals

As paranormal investigator's, the majority of us frequent local cemeteries on a regular basis. A good investigator will hear the rumours associated with the cemetery and begin their investigation by researching the history of people buried within the grounds and maybe, the history, of the cemetery.

 Most will take hundreds of photos of the tombstones that represent the lives of those buried there,

spending hours looking for the slightest bit of paranormal activity between the headstones...but, have you ever wondered what all those symbols, the hands shaking, the anchors, actually mean?

 In Australia, we have a diverse cultural background, pioneers from many countries across the globe, plus a vast amount of immigrants over the past 200 years. Our cemeteries represent not only the original pioneers from Europe, but now also those from every corner of the globe, and our tombstones and mausoleums reflect this

Below is a small list of what some of the symbols represent.

ANIMALS:

 Animals representing the deceased is a very old tradition going back to the Egyptians. It was also common in Europe.

• Birds in Flight - These are symbolic of the "winged soul." The representation of the soul by a bird goes back to ancient Egypt.
• Wings - Some older burial art features only wings to convey the symbol of divine mission. Often denote the graves of children, eternal life.
• Dove - An important symbolic animal in Christianity representing the Holy Spirit.  The white dove is referred to in the story of the baptism of Christ. "And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him" (Bible, John 1:32). The descending dove is a very common motif on grave memorials.
• Seven Doves are representative of the seven spirits of God or the Holy Spirit in its sevenfold gifts of grace. Purity, devotion, Divine Spirit. When shown with an Olive Sprig it means Hope or Promise.
• Eagle - suggests courage and possibly a military career, also the symbol for Saint John.
• Owl - represents wisdom.
• Rooster - Awakening, the Resurrection.
• Swallow - indicates a child or motherhood.

Butterfly - The soul, Although quite rare, it is occasionally seen on graves (most often of children).

 It is symbolic of the resurrection of Christ. The meaning is derived from the three stages of the life of the butterfly—the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the butterfly. The three stages are symbols of life, death and resurrection. Short-life.

Dog - Signifying the loyalty and that the master was worth loving.

Dolphin - portrays the idea of resurrection.

Dragon - being defeated by St. George depicts triumph over sin.

Fish - indicates faith.

Frog - depicts sin and worldly pleasures, or may represent resurrection.

Hart (male deer) - represented either faithfulness, thirsting for God, or Christ slaying Satan.

Horse - Courage or generosity. An attribute of St. George, St. Martin, St. Maurice and St. Victor, all of whom are represented in Christian art on horseback.

Lamb - This is the most common animal symbol found on a child's grave - representing Innocence in life. The lamb appears throughout the ages with great regularity in Christian art and because it is a symbol of Christ:

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" (Bible, John 1:29).

 The use of the lamb in religious art pre-dates Christianity and appears to have been used first by the Egyptians.

 It signifies purity and innocence. Christ in his sacrificial role and personifies innocence, meekness, gentleness and humility.

Lion - Symbolises the power of God and guards the tomb against evil spirits.

 Like other guardians, the lion's watch is as eternal as the stone of which it is depicted.

The lion also recalls the courage and determination of the souls which they guard, they manifest the spirit of the departed.

Resurrection

• Peacock - symbolized the incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, the beauty of soul, immortality.
• Phoenix -  symbolized the incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, the beauty of soul, immortality.
• Serpent- shown swallowing its own tail it represents Eternity.
• Squirrel with a nut - religious meditation or spiritual striving.

ANGELIQUE COTTIN, THE ELECTRIC GIRL

At 14 years of age, Angelique Cotton, from the Normandy region of France, became a sensation amongst her peers and the local townsfolk when poltergeist-like activity began to happen within her vicinity.  Nicknamed the “Electric Girl” witnesses described seeing large tables float across rooms she was in. On one occasion an old metal weaving loom and frame 'danced' across a floor in her presence. Chairs would shoot across the room when she tried to sit, and beds would drag across the floor.

 When she lifted her left hand as if on command, pens and papers would shoot across the table.

Anyone getting close to Angelique would also receive a painful electric shock, making her already odd life a lonely one, not being to experience the touch of friends and family.

It wasn't uncommon for Angelique to suffer from fits or convulsions, and writhe and twist in pain and agony, which led her family to visit the local priest and ask for an exorcism.

 The Father convinced the family the strange goings-on were not of the spiritual world, nor demons, but of the physical world, and most likely had a plausible explanation.

 Angelique was then taken to Paris to be studied by the finest doctors and scientists the city could muster, which led to the famous physicist Francois Arago examining the child. Arago declared that the effects on the young Angelique were a genuine physical world phenomenon caused by electromagnetism.

Angelique's parents were then convinced to make money from Angelique's condition and offered her a sideshow exhibit. Then just as suddenly as her electromagnetic powers had appeared, they abruptly stopped in April 1846, and young Angelique returned to a normal life.

written by Allen Tiller

Hilary Evans Paranormal Researcher

Hilary Evans

A self-styled and educated paranormal researcher, Hilary Evans is somewhat better known for helping to establish with his wife Mary, “The Mary Evans Picture Library” in 1964, a collection of millions of illustrations from the 18th and 19th centuries.



With a keen interest in the unusual, the paranormal and particularly Ufology in his younger days, it wasn't until the 1960's that he joined “The Society for Psychical Research”. In his time he was a member of “The British UFO Research Association” and “The Folklore Society”. In 1981 he co-founded “The Association For The Scientific Study Of Anomalous Phenomena”.

Born the son of a Vicar in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK, Hilary's family moved to India when he was just four years old, as his Father had taken a job as Headmaster at an Indian School. Aged nine, He returned to England and attended St Georges school in Hertfordshire.
Hilary went on to earn a Masters Degree at Birmingham University and soon took on tutoring Turkish families children. Eventually, he became a copywriter for an advertising agency where he worked for 12 years. Soon, he discovered (in agreement with his employer) that he was not management material, and so he devoted his time to freelance writing and his ever-growing library.



Hilary's library of paranormally related material was vast, weighing in at 5.5 tons when donated to the Archives for UFO Research in

Sweden. He collected all kinds of writings and drawings on UFO's and related materials, read, catalogued and kept in excellent condition,
Hilary wrote a vast number of books, and was able, through his own knowledge and a vast library,  to make conclusions and connections that other people missed, or simply ignored.
Some of his many many writings include:

• Intrusions: Society and the Paranormal. London and Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982.
• The Evidence for UFOs. Wellingborough, Northampton, England: Aquarian Press, 1983.
• Visions, Apparitions, Alien Visitors. Wellingborough, Northampton, England: Aquarian Press, 1984.
• Gods, Spirits, Cosmic Guardians. Wellingborough, Northampton: Aquarian Press, 1987.
• Alternate States of Consciousness: Unself, Other-self, and Superself. Wellingborough, Northampton: Aquarian Press, 1989.
• Frontiers of Reality, Aquarian Press, 1989
• Evans, Hilary, and John Spencer, eds. Phenomena: Forty Years of Flying Saucers. New York: Avon Books, 1989.
• Evans, Hilary, and Dennis Stacy, eds. UFO 1947-1997: Fifty Years of Flying Saucers. London: John Brown, 1997.
• Evans, Hilary, and Robert Bartholomew, eds. Outbreak! The Encyclopedia of Extraordinary Social Behaviour. San Antonio, Texas: Anomalist Books, 2009.
• Evans, Hilary "SLIders: The Enigma of Streetlight Interference" San Antonio, Texas: Anomalist Books, 2010

Hilary Evans born 6 March 1929; died 27 July 2011 
May his memory live on through us.

© 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

All content on “Eidolon Paranormal & The Haunts of Adelaide” sites, blog and corresponding media pages (eg Facebook, twitter etc) is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any means or process without the written permission of the author. © 2012, 2013, 2014

All photos remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are displayed here for the purpose of education, research and review under the copyright act "fair usage" clause.

Some photos used here on this site are sourced from The State Library of South Australia, and The National Library of Australia and http://www.gawler.nowandthen.net.au - all photos are out of copyright and have no usage restrictions implied.

The Haunts of Adelaide – History, Mystery & the Paranormal

The Haunts of Adelaide – History, Mystery & the Paranormal

Published by CUSTOM BOOK Publications It has always been Allen Tiller’s aim to provide a factual insight into haunted locations in Adelaide, and indeed, the rest of Australia. He lifts the veil on ghost stories and reveals the truth behind the myths and tales that so often become urban legend and local folklore. His mission is to research the historical facts of locations, people, places and buildings - from a distinctly paranormal perspective. The Haunts of Adelaide was born… 

With previously unpublished stories.

Exclusive Haunting: Australia references

Avid paranormal enthusiasts may note that this book misses some allegedly haunted locations in Adelaide, such as The Light Hotel and Old Adelaide Gaol, this was done with the intention of keeping the cost of book down and also allowing the main location in this book “The Adelaide Arcade” (which was investigated for the very first time by the team from Haunting: Australia in 2013) to shine a little bit brighter – there will be a follow up book to “Adelaide” in the future, but the next book in the series will feature Kapunda, with some exclusive never before published ghost stories about Australia’s Most Haunted Town passed on by the locals of Kapunda!

It is my intention to follow in the footsteps of some of my favourite Authors like John Pinkney & Grant Osborn and write multiple books, but the real inspiration behind this series of books goes to two people Russell Smith, who resides right here in Adelaide and wrote the wonderful series of books “Curiosities of South Australia”, and Ghost Hunter Mr Peter Underwood who has written a huge number of books including the incredibly popular “Ghosts of” series which covered popular, and lesser known hauntings across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

http://www.amazon.com/The-HAUNTS-ADELAIDE-History-Paranormal/dp/1503150232

• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1503150232
• ISBN-13: 978-1503150232

Ivan T. Sanderson F.L.S., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., M.A. (Cantab)

Ivan T. Sanderson

Ivan T. Sanderson F.L.S., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., M.A.(Cantab). Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Fellow of the Zoological Society of London, Ufologist, Cryptozoologist, Counter-espionage Agent for British Naval Intelligence. Ivan Sanderson was a very well educated man with a yearning to always learn, and discover more.


Sanderson attended Eton College, and also earned a BA (with Honours) from Cambridge University in Zoology, and later would also earn himself MA degrees in Botany and Ethnology. (Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyses the characteristics of different peoples and the relationship between them )

Sanderson became known worldwide after an encounter with “Kongamato” (see link at bottom of page) a bat described “As The Granddaddy of all bats” which lives in Africa. The creature is described by many locals as looking like the dinosaur “Pterosaurs”.

Sanderson's evidence is held in high regard due to the nature of his training and education, but this encounter and many other encounters with the bat-like monster were (and probably still are ) very controversial at the time, with many people believing the creature to be a myth or hoax.

Here's Sanderson’s description of the event as quoted on Wikipedia:

Sanderson: "Then I let out a shout also and instantly bobbed down under the water, because, coming straight at me only a few feet above the water was a black thing the size of an eagle. I had only a glimpse of its face, yet that was quite sufficient, for its lower jaw hung open and bore a semicircle of pointed white teeth set about their own width apart from each other. When I emerged, it was gone. ... And just before it became too dark to see, it came again, hurtling back down the river, its teeth chattering, the air "shss-shssing" as it was cleft by the great, black, Dracula-like wings."


Sanderson was well known for his epic expeditions into tropical areas in the 1920s and 1930's, writing about his travels and findings, animals and nature in general, earning him a great deal of

respect from the general public. A tragedy occurred though, in 1925 Sanderson was with his parents in Kenya where they had travelled to work with a film crew, Ivan's Father was killed by a Rhinoceros, the whole event being caught on camera.

Ivan Sanderson was well known in the 1960s and 1970s for his radio interviews in the USA, where he had eventually emigrated too, choosing New Jersey as his new home.

Ivan Sanderson Founded the Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained (SITU) in 1967. SITU was a non-profit organisation that investigated strange phenomena ignored by mainstream science.

The Sanderson family were also large volume Whiskey manufacturers

He died of cancer at his New Jersey residence in 1973.

Links:

http://www.richardgrigonis.com/Ch01%20Prologue%20and%20On%20the%20Trail%20of%20Ivan%20Sanderson.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongamato

© 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

All content on “Eidolon Paranormal & The Haunts of Adelaide” sites, blog and corresponding media pages (eg Facebook, twitter etc) is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any means or process without the written permission of the author. © 2012, 2013, 2014

All photos remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are displayed here for the purpose of education, research and review under the copyright act "fair usage" clause.

Some photos used here on this site are sourced from The State Library of South Australia, and The National Library of Australia and http://www.gawler.nowandthen.net.au - all photos are out of copyright and have no usage restrictions implied.