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GATE – 1. A symbol of death and departure from this life as recorded in Psalms 9:13. 2. It symbolizes the gates of Heaven or Paradise based on Psalms 24:7. The gate carries both of these meanings (1 and 2) in scenes of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. 3. A gate is the dividing barrier between the righteous and the damned in scenes of the last judgment. A gate is always a central feature in illustrations of the descent into Hell.
GLASS – A symbol of purity because glass has clear and transparent
qualities.
GLOBE (Orb) – 1. A symbol of power, often the globe is held in the hand of God the Father or Jesus. In art, globes can also be found held in the hands of archangels. 2. If the globe has a cross on the top of it, it symbolizes taking the Christian message (missions) to the entire world. Such globes are often found on the top of church steeples.
GOLD – 1. A symbol of great wealth. 2. Gold symbolizes a person being royalty. 3. It symbolizes Jesus’ kingly office.
GRIDIRON – A symbol of martyrdom.
HALBERD – A symbol of martyrdom. Tradition tells us that Jude was killed with a halberd.
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HAMMER – A symbol of our Lord’s Passion because the hammer was used to nail Jesus to the cross.
HAND(S) – 1. Two hands that are joined together, with God hovering above, symbolize Christian marriage. 2. Two hands joined together on a gravestone symbolize farewell. 3. Two hands pressed reverently together symbolize worship. 4. Folded hands are a symbol of prayer. 5. A hand with a wound in it symbolizes Jesus’ Passion.
HARP – 1. A symbol of music, joy and worship in Heaven. 2. It is a symbol of David as told in I Chronicles 13:8.
HATCHET/AXE – 1. A symbol of destruction. 2. It is a symbol for John the Baptist due to a sermon he preached where all the trees not bearing fruit were cut down (Matthew 3:10). 3. It is a symbol of Joseph, referring to his trade as a carpenter. 4. Because both Matthew and Matthias suffered martyrdom by beheading, the axe is one of their symbols. |
| THE HOLY GRAIL – The Holy Grail was the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. The legend of the Holy Grail dates back to the twelfth century. The legend, once started, grew every time it was retold. It tells us that the Holy Grail was greatly sought after |
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