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About Me
- Coldstreamer
- I have been a resident of Coldstream since 1976. I have had 15 years of experience on Council, 3 years as Mayor. As a current Councillor I am working to achieve fair water and sewer rates and to ensure that taxpayers get fair treatment. The current direction regarding water supply is unsustainable and I am doing all I can to get the most cost effective water supply possible.
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Gravestone Art: Stories Fixed in Stone
Oct 15, 2005 - © Dayna Winters
"Thou shalt lie down with patriarchs of the infant world--with kings the powerful of the earth-- the wise, the good, fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past, All in one mighty sepulchre." -William Cullen Byrant-
Often times, when someone thinks of a paranormal investigator, images of people ghost hunting in dark, creepy cemeteries come to mind. In some instances, this may be true, yet, what should be remembered is that cemeteries are not necessarily as creepy as they first appear. Cemeteries are places filled with incredible art and historical references. When ghost hunting, it becomes possible to appreciate the diverse art that cemeteries provide.
Gravestones are more than just sections of stone stationed as grim reminders of imminent death. Soon after they're established, these monuments become a place of comfort for the bereaved, and a symbol of remembrance and honor for the deceased. Gravestones are a form of immortality for those who have passed, reminding all who view them of the individuals they epitomize. Moreover, gravestones contain infinite historical value, displaying in their construction, the changes that have occurred over time.
It is unfortunate that cemeteries have obtained such a morose reputation. The fear of death, superstitions, and/or dealing with grief often causes people to ignore, what they would consider, a place of morbidity. Additionally, movies, urban legends, and other forms of media have only managed to add to the misconceptions and the macabre air that cemeteries and their holdings evoke. Yet, if people would take the time to examine the stones in area cemeteries they would witness the silent epilogues of the dead; the stories that the markers soundlessly narrate.
When someone passes away, family members remain behind and often decide the proper décor of the headstone. The adornments are often symbolic, representing a long tradition held by the family, conservative funerary art, or something the family felt was significant to the passing individual and/or allusive to their remembrance of the deceased. The symbols these markers contain and the uniqueness the stones exhibit in their composition can range from the simplistic to the extraordinary; causing each stone to be as colorful as the individual they represent.
After examining the various icons in any given cemetery, one can easily see from the range of diverse symbols that can be found: cemetery icons are often as diverse as the families buried there. Furthermore, headstones can relate specifics about the individuals who have passed. As it was once so aptly stated by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), "Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have (El Dorado County)." Funerary art can indicate, religious beliefs, individual affinities and hobbies, or membership in Fraternal Organizations. Moreover, a combination of symbols begins to etch a story; a brief synopsis of the people who have passed.
The copyright of the article Gravestone Art: Stories Fixed in Stone in Ghost Hunters is owned by Dayna Winters. Permission to republish Gravestone Art: Stories Fixed in Stone in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Read more at Suite101: Gravestone Art: Stories Fixed in Stone http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/ghost_investigations/117682#ixzz0lStSKzdO
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