General Chat

Can anyone tell me what this means on top of a gravestone please?

This is a 1711 gravestone with the inscription still legibile but along the top (the narrow part that faces the sky) the following letters have been inscribed:

C + H (and there could be something after thqt because there's a lot of room left to the right of those letters).

Is it 'Christ' something?

I have looked online to no avail.

Could it be latin?

Could be Ann because some of the family documents we have are in Latin.

I was thinking of Christos plus ?????

Just realised I ought to have asked either a cousin or sister-in-law who both teach Latin.

If I get no joy here I'll email them - and I'll let you know the outcome for future reference.

Symbols of belief...

Are they Christ and Heaven then Emma?

Christ has risen?

I thought if symbols of hands on some Jewish
Stones it is that also Masonic.

Good idea Ann.

Emma, this is a stone in a C of E churchyard so I am thinkin of Christos something - Ann's idea is good.

OK my mistake.

Stonemason's name?

Just rung sis-in-law who is retired but teaches classical Latin still. She did not know ecclesiastical Latin (heard this before from an ex-work colleague) but had an idea where to look to see if she could find out.

If she comes up with nothing then I'll ring cuz tonight (she's still teaching).

I'll let everyone know if and when I find out what the letters mean.

I hope I learn something today.

Like Stella said, could it have been the initials of the masons responsible for the gravestone?

Just a thought if nothing religious is found. The initials are away from the inscription after all.

Not sure Pat, but I'll let you know what I find out.

Myself, I still fancy Christos ... something

I wish I'd paid more attention at school now.

Perhaps they recycled the stone from an old sink, that marked the taps!

18th century cutting edge tech eh! :-D :-D

Perhaps. :-D

for over a thousand years it was therefore not represented directly in art. Instead at first it was represented by symbolic depictions such as the Chi Rho, the first two Greek letters of Christ, encircled by a wreath symbolizing the victory of resurrection over death.


Early Christian inscriptions


www.naturalgeographicmagazine.com/q/Early_Christian_inscriptions

Early Christian inscriptions are the epigraphical ... was a Roman soldier whose tombstone was found ... the Greek counterparts of God, Lord, Jesus, Chr

Will try Christian inscriptions Ann.

If it's on the top facing of the stone then it's not meant to be seen (if I have the placement right).

Any inscriptions that relate to the deceased are meant to be visible.

I would go for the stonemason, you can look in the trade directories for the area also any church records that would give you more info.

I think it was meant to be seen as the stone is only about 18 inches high and was probably the first inscription noticed before it weathered.

I'm becoming more curious

I've not seen a gravestone that old with the mason's sign or initials on it.