Category: Symbols

An hourglass represents the notion of time passing. The sand is trapped & conveys the idea of time being limited or finite. Once the sands run out, no one is around to flip the hourglass over again.

Angel wings are common Christian symbols of heaven & could signify two possible things when coupled with an hourglass: demonstrating your fate after the sands of time run out, or reinforcing the fact that time is fleeting. It provides a subtle reminder to make the most of every moment.

Along with the skull & crossbones, the winged hourglass is the most ubiquitous symbol in Recoleta Cemetery. One even appears on the grand entrance gate:

Besides acting as the logo of this blog, the symbol appears in a variety of forms… carved directly into the mausoleum itself:

…incorporated into wrought-iron doors:

…as a separate sculpture:

…or, as in this personal favorite, etched into glass:

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An angel with an anchor is one of the oldest existing Christian symbols. Used primarily until the year 400 A.D., the image is taken directly from the Book of Hebrews 6:19-20… hope is “an anchor of the soul, sure & firm.” Just as an anchor maintains a ship steady, so does the Christian faith & early Christian cemeteries often used the symbol on tombs.

No one knows exactly why the anchor was replaced by other symbols in later years, but a revival began in the 1600s especially in cemeteries. Although not abundant in Recoleta Cemetery, a few angels with anchors can be found on the tops of domes or by vault entrances:

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Taken from a Greek phrase meaning “tail devourer,” this ancient symbol of a serpent eating its tail is perfect for a cemetery. Representing an eternal cycle of renewal, death is not seen as an end… it’s another beginning.

The serpent is often accompanied by a sphere—another symbol of eternity—or some other circular form. The ouroboros on front gate is difficult to make out from a distance:

Another beautiful example is on the Demarchi y Quiroga family vault. For an explanation of the moth, see this post:

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The name of Christ in Greek is Christos (Χριστός) & the first two letters form a common Christian symbol. It’s everywhere in Recoleta Cemetery & is even incorporated into the entrance gate design… the XP hidden among decorative ivy.

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