20 Avenue Rachel, Paris, France (18th Arrondissement)
A final resting place of many famous artists, this tiered cemetery is full of surprises. The number and size of the tombs is overwhelming. Vegetation and moss flourish while cats stealthily sneak through the immense vaults and crypts. One of the most surprising sights is the overpass, a lattice metal viaduct known as the Pont Caulaincourt, which straddles one section of the cemetery. Are the crypts supporting the viaduct or is the viaduct restraining the crypts?
Angels are spiritual beings guarding the tomb and praying for the soul. As a messenger from God the angel is a guide to Heaven. They represent love, protection, and resurrection. Angels are represented in many forms.
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Thy angels watch me through the night, And keep me safe till morning’s light.
ANGEL CARRYING A CHILD Symbolizes embracing the soul and escorting the deceased to heaven.
Like a rosebud faded with life scarce begun And angels, bright angels escorted him home.
ANGELS IN CLOUDS Represents heaven and Divine love.
Milton Evergreen, Milton, ON, Canada
Angels to beckon me Nearer my God to thee Nearer is thee
Milton Evergreen, Milton, ON, Canada
ANGEL DROPPING FLOWERS Represents blessings from Heaven
ANGEL HOLDING A WREATH Represents the memory of a loved one
Stratford, ON, Canada
ANGEL PRAYING
Colma, California
And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since and lost awhile. 1925
Milton Evergreen, Milton, ON, Canada
An angel holding a praying bowl
Lowville, ON, Canada
ANGEL TRUMPETING The Archangel Gabriel depicted with a horn represents a call to the resurrection on the day of judgment. “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
There are several versions of this sculpture containing different components which have been related to mythology, Judaism and Christianity; yet it is ultimately a Masonic carving. It symbolizes that time, patience and perseverance will accomplish all things. The most common symbols are Father Time, a Virgin, a broken column, an urn, a sprig of acacia, and a book, all of which rest on the top level of three steps.
Lakeview Cemetery, Cleveland,OH, USACavehill Cemetery, Louisville, KY, USA
Father Time is most often depicted as an old man with long hair and beard, and a pair of wings. A scythe and hourglass are symbols associated with him. The scythe represents the Divine harvest and the hourglass denotes that the sands of time bring us closer to death. As the scythe cuts the harvest, so life is ended by Father Time. He stands behind a virgin (or young woman) attempting to untangle the ringlets of her hair. It symbolizes that with time and perseverance all things can be accomplished.
Evergreen Cemetery, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
The mythological Goddess Rhea is represented by a virgin or weeping woman who grieves over the loss of a loved one. Symbols differ in sculptures, the most common being an urn in her left hand and a sprig of acacia in her right hand. Acacia is an evergreen and represents the immortality of the soul. The urn is a symbol of death and was used to collect tears of the mourners. It is often shown resting on a book symbolic of the Book of Life where names of the righteous were recorded to ensure entry into Heaven.
Binghamton, NY, USA
Other representations show the virgin holding a scroll which is a symbol of life. She can also be found holding a chisel or a mallet. She stands before a sundered column symbolic of a life cut short. (A column or pillar was often used by the Hebrews to symbolize rulers or nobles.)
In Freemasonry, a summary of the sculpture relates the following.
The broken column denotes the untimely death of Grand Master Hiram Abiff.
The beautiful Virgin, weeping, denotes the unfinished Temple.
The book open before her, displays that his virtues are on perpetual record.
The sprig of acacia in her right hand, represents the timely discovery of his body.
The urn in her left, that his ashes were there safely deposited to perpetuate the remembrance of so distinguished a character.
Father Time standing behind her unfolding the ringlets of her hair denotes that time, patience and perseverance will accomplish all things.
Words on Stone 