IMAGES OF MORTALITY ON TOMBS AND MEMORIALS

Incredibly ornate tomb from the grounds of the church of St Mary, Stilton near to Peterborough. Lots of symbolism here with Old Father Time holding a broken hour glass, from which spills out an image of the deceased. Two human skulls at his feet also symbolise man's mortality. From behind one of the skulls a plant shoots upwards representing life continuing. Crossed flames of life appear at either side of the tomb. Flames are pointing upwards, mostly they will point downwards. A truly spectacular piece of work.

Below, Old Father Time appears, again with hour glass, at the side of skull and crossed bones. This image comes from Peterborough Cathedral. To the right of that, another representation of Old Father Time, this coming from the top of an elaborately carved gravestone in the church grounds at St Mary Magdalene, Warham, near to Wells on the North Norfolk coast.