Letters, Monograms & Abrevations used on Headstones

~ ROCHESTER'S HISTORY ~
AN ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE

LETTERS, MONOGRAMS & ABBREVIATIONS

LETTERS & MONOGRAMS USED TO SYMBOLIZE JESUS CHRIST

CHI RHO or LABARUM

This common symbol appears in various forms that represent Christianity or Christians. Its exact origin is unknown but the Christians appear to have adopted the symbol from the Greeks. The vertical line may have represented a cosmic tree and the axial symbol. In Christianity, it represents the first two letters of Christ's name. It was later the emblem used by Constantine and came to him in a dream. The symbol has been found on early Roman tombstones.

ALPHA and OMEGA
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. They symbolize God the Father and the Son or the beginning and the end. They are commonly used in conjunction with another symbol, such as a cross or a crown. IHC and IHS, two monograms for Christ

IHS, IHC
Common monograms found on grave memorials. these letters are the first three letters of Ihsus, or Ihcuc, the name of Jesus in Greek. The "S" and the "C" are variant forms in the Greek alphabet. This monogram is mistakenly interpreted as Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Savior of Men).
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INRI
These represent the first four letters of the Latin words "Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum" meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." According to John 19:19, Pontius Pilate wrote this title, and had it placed above Christ on the cross. The sign was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin.

TERMS
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FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

`(b)`	`brother`
`(d)`	`daughter`
`(f)`	`father`
`(h)`	`husband`
`(m)`	`mother`
`(s)`	`son`
`b(d)o`	`beloved (daughter etc.) of`
`Consort`	`a husband alive at the time of his wife's death`
`D.S.P.`	`died without children - (Latin)`
`D.V.P.`	`died in father's lifetime - (Latin)`
`Obit Sine Prole`	`died without children - (Latin)`
`Relict`	`widow`
`tb(d)o`	`the beloved (daughter etc.) of`
`wdw`	`widow`
`wf`	`wife`

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TEXT

a	`above`
`an`	`above named`
`ata(n)`	`also the above (named)`
`(o)`	`of`
`ota(n)`	`of the above (named)`

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AGE

b	`born`
`a5m`	`aged 5 months`
`a60y`	`aged 60 years`
`AE`	`An abbreviation for Aetatis, or years of life`

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DIED

d	`died`
`Wd`	`who died`
`Wdin`	`who died in infancy`
`Wdtl`	`who departed this life`
`Wfa`	`who fell asleep`
`Wpa`	`who passed away`
`D.Y.`	`Died young`
`Eir`	`entered into rest`
`H.S.`	`Here is buried - (Latin)`
`KIA`	`Killed In Action`

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ENDERMENTS

`b`	`beloved`
`IAMO`	`In Affectionate Memory Of`
`ICMO`	`In Cherished Memory Of`
`IDMO`	`In Dear Memory Of`
`IELMO`	`In Ever Loving Memory Of`
`ILMO`	`In Loving Memory Of`
`IRO`	`In Remembrance Of`
`STMO`	`Sacred to the Memory Of`
`TMO`	`Treasured Memories Of`
`TTDMO`	`To the Dear Memory Of`

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ORGINIZATIONS

`B.P.O.E.`	`Benevolent Protective Order of Elks`
`C.S.A.`	`Confederate States Army`
`G.A.R.`	`Grand Army of the Republic`
`I.O.O.F.`	`Independent Order of Odd Fellows`
`O.E.S.`	`Order of Eastern Star`
`V.F.W.`	`Veterans of Foreign Wars`

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