Welcome to my death symbols section where we explore the many ways cultures across the globe have represented, understood, and commemorated the concept of death.
Symbols of death are depictions of death in various cultures that are symbolic, frequently metaphorical.
From the serene and solemn to the intricate and symbolic, death symbols serve as a bridge between the living and the eternal, offering insights into humanity’s deepest existential queries and beliefs.
Since the beginning of time, there have been emblems for death. When someone dies, several symbols have been utilised from Ancient Rome and Greece through Africa and China.
Traditional pictures of death range from straightforward depictions of cadavers and their components to more allusive implications that time is fleeting and all men are mortals.
In many cultures and religious traditions, the human skull is an evident and common sign of death.
In this section, we delve into the ancient icons, artifacts, and rituals that embody the essence of mortality, revealing how civilizations have sought to make sense of life’s final journey.
Find out the significance behind these powerful symbols, from the Egyptian Ankh, symbolizing eternal life, to the Celtic Triskelion, representing cycles and progressions.
Each symbol tells a story of reverence, fear, and ultimately, acceptance, providing a fascinating glimpse into the human psyche and the universal experience of death.
Symbol of death, protection, eternal change. Buddhism inspired the Citipati emblem. A female and male skeleton dance together in the symbol. The skeletons represent death and endless change. The Citipati were monks who were engrossed in prayer. A thief came along and hacked off their heads while they were in this state. Even in death, … Read more
Symbol of death, time The hourglass was invented in Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was created to aid in the telling of time. An hour had passed when the sand spilled out of one end. After that, the hourglass could be switched over to count another hour. Until the mechanical clock was invented, … Read more
Symbol of death, dark powers, Devil Throughout Europe, the grim reaper is a personification of death. The grim reaper is usually depicted as a skeleton with a scythe in one hand and an hourglass in the other in most of these civilizations. The scythe represents a life cut short. The skeleton sometimes, but not always, … Read more
Symbols of death, commemoration Gravestones have been used since the ancient Roman and Celtic cultures. A gravestone marked the location of ancient Celtic burial mounds. Celtic warriors, crosses, and twin Janus-like figures were depicted on their ancient gravestones. Rather than individual gravestones, these stones identified the region where there were graves. Individual gravestones record the … Read more
Symbol of death, mediation Ravens were regarded death symbols by the Vikings. The army would be defeated if ravens congregated above it. In order to carry out bad actions, witches would change into ravens. Ravens were seen as omens of death and in partnership with dark powers because they were the eyes of the gods … Read more
Symbol of death, messengers, revenge, The owl is regarded as a death sign in Native American culture. Owls are sometimes thought to be evil omens or extraterrestrial emissaries. Owls were regarded messengers of the gods of death in Aztec civilization. It was thought by the Navajo that if an owl spoke a person’s name, that … Read more
Symbol of death, transformation, reincarnation Although Egyptian mummies are the most well-known, mummies have also been found in other arid places, such as North and South American deserts. Mummies are dead bodies that have been preserved and wrapped. People are believed to retain their physical senses in the afterlife, hence their bodies must be preserved … Read more
Symbol of death, destruction, victory, power. The Aztecs were the first to use the skull and bones sign. Tombs were engraved with the skull and bones emblem. On ancient altars in Greece, a skull and crossed scepters were discovered. The skull and bones became a symbol for pirates and looting after the 13th century. The … Read more
Symbol of death, transition The Asante people of West Africa created the Owuo Atwede sign. The ascent into the next dimension is symbolized by this ladder symbol, which signifies man’s mortality. Funeral attire had the emblem emblazoned on it. Along with the Owuo Atwedee emblem, the clothes would have many symbols symbolizing the person’s life. … Read more
Symbol of Death The Thanatos symbol, rooted in ancient Greek mythology, embodies the complex human relationship with death and the afterlife. Named after Thanatos, the Greek god of non-violent death, this symbol serves as a poignant reminder of mortality’s inevitability and the natural cycle of life and death. Unlike his more violent counterpart, Ker, Thanatos … Read more