On a trip to Scotland I visiting the Greyfriars Kirkyard and many of the markers had a variety of symbols on them.
A few pictures of what I mean can be seen here.
For those of you who don't want to open the pictures the symbols include a forearm gripping a bell, A drum or hourglass above a toppled pair of crossed obelisks, a skull and cross bones (though I can make an educated guess on this one). Then it appears to be a pair of pickaxes or hoes sticking out of the skull with a shovel behind it. The other skull has a pickaxe or hoe with what appears to be a heart behind it and maybe a lantern or torch of some sort next to it.
The writing appears to be Latin and the dates on it are 1614 and 1617.
What do these symbols mean? Were markings like this common on Scottish grave markers or was it typically reserved for the well to do?
The first picture is the memorial for John Laing (his initials are above the 1614) of Redhouse the keeper of the signet.
The text runs:
Left panel:
Quam natura dedit, mortali corpore clauso,
Dum spes exilii sustinet una moras,
The life, me nature gave, while pent in clay, Hopes of escape supporting the delay,
Right panel:
Vita fuit; nec vita fuit: mors, nescia mortis,
posse dedit vita jam meliore frui.
It was not life: death, ignorant of death, To me a life far better did bequeath.
The second one is for James Harlay keeper of the Privy seal
The text runs:
Magistro Jacobo Harlaio Signatori Regio a Codicillis
forensibus haeredes hoc monumentum posuerunt: vir fuit absq. fuco pius
et absq. fastu doctus vivere desiit. 1617 Aug 28
aetatis vero 44 Memento Mori
To Mr James Harlay Keeper of His Majestie's Privy Seal
his heirs built this monument He was a man godly
without guile and learned without pride. He died 1617 August 28
in his 44th year. Remember you are mortal.
James Brown: The Epitaphs and Monumental Inscriptions in Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh
As to symbolism:
The hand bell indicates the dead bell rung to give notice of and at funerals
The hourglass indicates the passage of time
The crossed tombstones are another indicator of death
The skull and cross bones is another indicator of death and mortality
The crossed picks and the shovel also indicate mortality
In the middle are the arms of the two individuals.
Getting a monumental mason to carve a memorial is going to be reserved for those of the wealthier classes, the imagery would be well understood (the emojis of the 17th and early 18th century basically).