What does it mean?
(Puzzle 001)
This was one of several puzzling crosses for which we had been searching its symbolic meaning.
After a bit of pondering, we decided that the main symbol at the top of this gravestone is a Bethlehem Star.
If you disagree or have additional thoughts, please type your comments below.
Click the photo to enlarge
What do these symbols mean?
The photo shows the top half of a grave marker (you probably guessed that). Precisely where, is irrelevant; and we want to keep it secret to protect the peace and quiet of the place. What we can tell you, is that the grave stone is in the burial grounds of an old Anglican church in the north of England.
(See also Churchyard Cross, Burial Cross and Funeral Cross)
Looking at the very top of the stone we see an unremarkable fleurie or budded symbol; not uncommon in neogothic churches and graveyards, and usually represents the Holy Trinity in a Christian setting such as this. But what about the symbols carved near the top? Are they just a whim of the engraver? Quite possibly, but if they do mean something, what?
At first sight, the large centre design looks like a Jewish Star of David, also used in Kabbalah. But this is unusual to find in a Christian graveyard; especially since the top left/right triangles enforce the Trinity concept, which is rejected by the Jewish a faith. (Incidentally, the six-pointed star has also been used by Arabs, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and other religions.)
We've had one or two suggestions that triangles might be Pagan and that the top left / right triangles represent male and female. These are enhanced by three linking semi-circles, which represent our nature of mind, body and soul. Indeed, as viewers of the daVinci Code movie will have seen, the Star of David can mean the divine union of male and female energy, where the male is represented by the upper triangle ('blade') and the female by the lower one ('chalice'). Quite possible of course but again, a bit out of place in this context.
Another idea proffered is that the star is a Masonic symbol. Stars are common in Freemasonry but usually they are pentagrams and the one on the gravestone has six points. In any case, such Masonic symbols are incompatible with the Christian setting; as would any suggestion of this being an occult talisman.
Chinese Checkers board
Hexagram
Was the deceased, Mr. William Watson, an expert in Chinese Checkers? Or a mathematician? In our school days, most of us probably never appreciated that πr2 would be so critical to remember in later life. Most of us didn't see much thrill in studying higher mathematics. But if we did manage to stay awake during those lectures, then we might recall that two equilateral triangles give us a representation of G2. This has 12 roots, which form the vertices of a hexagram. So now you know.
We rejected the idea that the top left/right shapes were outlines of Mickey Mouse wearing a pointy hat; not only because that's too silly, but also because the gravestone is early 19th century and Mickey Mouse didn't appear until 1928. Yet bizarrely, this leads us to our main clue: The date.
If you click on the top photo to enlarge it, you can see that Mr. Waston died on 24th December 1840 - Christmas Eve. What a wonderful tribute for Mr. Watson, to mark his headstone with the Christian symbol associated with New Life. That simple Star shape reminds us of the birth of Jesus, who came to this world to teach us something infinitely more valuable than Pythagoras did. Jesus also came to this world to give us the opportunity for Eternal Life.
In addition to the star's symbolic association with resurrection, a star on a grave marker symbolises the continued existence of loved ones. Like stars in the sky, they are out of reach yet it is clear that they exist. Stars lift our eyes toward heaven.
The six-pointed star can be seen in some stained-glass windows of Christian churches (it appears in the ceiling of the Washington National Cathedral) and is often called the Star of Creation. The carving on this grave stone reminds us that the light of Jesus is not restricted to those born in the Jewish faith, the Masons, Pagans, Hindus, or anyone else. Absolutely anyone can see this light.
This mystery file is now closed. But if you have alternative ideas, please let us know and we'll re-open the file.
Enter your idea(s) in the box(es) below.
