Gravestone symbolism
At Parks Canada’s Fort Anne National Historic Site in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, a project is now underway: cleaning and restoration of all 234 standing stones in it’s Garrison Graveyard (~1660 - 1940).
Quite a difference, you’ll agree. The details are now clear as day. But what do we make of the cross and the letters I, H, and S inside the circle?
Recently, Mapannapolis discovered the BillionGraves.com blog
We read: “Sometimes the letters I, H, and S are intertwined on a gravestone, making them look like a dollar sign.
But the letters are actually a religious symbol. I, H, and S are the first three initials (iota-eta-sigma) of the name Jesus Christ in Greek: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ.
This symbol was introduced in Ireland in about 1780 and was very popular from about 1810 to 1830. It is often seen on Catholic gravestones today.”
See our Garrison Graveyard storymap here: https://www.mapannapolis.ca/garrison-graveyard
See our Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, cemeteries and churches storymap here: https://www.mapannapolis.ca/cemeteries-churches