Memento mori is a Latin phrase traditionally translated as 'remember you will die'.

Jewish symbolism. Symbol for the divine presence. The seven arms represent the seven days of creation. On gravestones, menorahs symbolize the deceased’s deep commitment to Judaism throughout their entire life.

Jewish symbolism. The mohel performs the ritual of circumcision when the male baby is eight days old and the rite symbolizes inclusion in the covenant that Abraham made with God.

During circumcision, part of the foreskin is removed by the moheel with special tools. The foreskin is fixed with a circumcision clip or ring, the surgery itself is done with a circumcision.

In the past, these instruments, along with a pipette and a cup, were kept in a case or box. In most cases, only the knife with a clamp is depicted, but in some cases there are several attributes on the tombstone of a moheel.

Symbol of grief of the relatives. Usually it concerns a grieving woman. Often depicted life-size, leaning over a gravestone mourning. Compare pleurants, which appear on tombs in churches.

Various meanings can be assigned to this. Oak was considered indestructible and was therefore a symbol of the imperishable. In ancient times, a laurel wreath of oak leaves was given to overcomers as a sign of imperishable honor.

In the Netherlands during the Second World War it was a much used symbolism on funerary monuments for members and sympathizers of the NSB (a Dutch fascist and later Nazi political party). It is not known whether this specific application also occurs outside the Netherlands (in particular Suriname, the Caribbean islands and Indonesia).

Oil lamp. Symbol of the eternal light, referring to eternity and immortality. It is the symbol of Christ who is the light of the world (John 8:12).

The olive tree is a symbol of justice, peace and piety and God's care for His children.

Judeo-Christian tradition has it that a dove announced the end of the flood with an olive branch in its beak. (Genesis 8:11). Ever since, the dove and the olive branch have been symbols of peace. In the 18th century it was customary to use olive branches together with palm branches in funeral wreaths as a sign of peace and fame.

Chief factor or chief merchant and supervisor of al the staff on the factory.

Takes care of all merchandise. Usually the same person as the Opperhoofd. Supreme authority aboard a VOC ship (until 1742).

Construction in which bones of the deceased are kept.

The owl is a mythological bird in many cultures around the world. As a nocturnal animal, the Celts and Germans considered a bird with special skills, with the Germans the eagle owl was even a burial gift. In Ancient Egypt, an owl hieroglyph represented death, and in the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the eagle owl was a bird of the underworld. The Little Owl is identified with Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom.

Owls were considered unclean animals in the Old Testament. For Christians, the owl symbolized the idea that the Jews did not choose Christ as the Light of the World, but lived in darkness. The owl is also often associated with death in Central American and African cultures, for example as a guardian of the 'dark house of the earth'.

As a nocturnal animal, it is not surprising that the owl became the symbol of darkness. In the sixteenth century, the piercing scream of an owl encouraged an association with the devil. And according to superstition, a death soon followed when an owl scratched in the night. From the end of the fifteenth century, the owl stood for wisdom in Western art, a reference to classical Greek civilization. But the owl also continued to depict the night. The owl appeared as a symbol of death in nocturnal scenes and memento-mori scenes.

Sometimes an owl is seen on funerary monuments in combination with books, a clear reference to wisdom. However, usually the use of the owl can mainly be seen as a symbol of the purified soul, the being that can see in the darkness.

An attribute of the Roman goddess of victory, Victoria, the palm branch symbolizes victory over death.

In ancient times, the palm branch was given to athletes as a sign of victory. The Christians took it as a sign for those who had died, especially the martyrs. In Christian art, the palm branch was a symbol of the victory over death through and in Christ. In Catholic liturgy, the palm branch refers to the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. A dove with a palm branch refers to peace.

The Judeo-Christian symbolism of the palm goes back to Psalm 92 verse 12 (KJ): 'The righteous will grow like a palm tree'. The palm tree refers to paradise.

Passiflora, also passion flower. Reference to the crucifixion of Christ. The three stamps symbolize the nails of the cross, the tricolor wreath around the pollinator symbolizes the crown of thorns and the stemmed ovary is the symbol of the chalice of the Lord.

Latin for peace. Symbol for Christ who brought peace to the earth.