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Conjure-Digital — Skull and Crossbones Gravestone
Published: 2012-04-29 20:56:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 2403; Favourites: 50; Downloads: 69
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Description
Photo of a gravestone in Marblehead's Old Burial Hill, one of the oldest in New England. The iconic "Skull and Crossbones" used to indicate poison or as used by Pirates comes from gravestones exactly like this one from the 1600s. The "Skull and Crossbones" meant, quite simply, Death.Related content
Comments: 9
That was a popular decoration for headstones during the 1600s correct?
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Super Cool!! do you know what's the name on the gravestone
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Mrs. Susanna Orne
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thank you very much! I wonder if she was a well-liked woman because wouldn't they put an angel on top instead of crossbones? Sorry thinking about it too much, thank you anyway!
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No worries about thinking too much about this gravestone. It's a very good question. I hope I can answer it. In New England, when this woman was alive, people were very strict. They prayed a lot and didn't engage in many frivolous activities. Life was hard and life was short. If you prayed a lot you could go to heaven. Angels weren't the pretty beings we think of today. To them, Angels brought destruction and bad news - like in the "Old Testament." These New Englanders who lived in the 1600s were a simple people and death, and the corruption of the body, was always around. The skull and crossbones was a warning that you too would someday die so you better pray that you will be sent to heaven not hell.
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Thank u you very much, I will keep this newfound knowledge in mind
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Thanx for the great pic,and i loved to read the info also
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Excellent. Thanks a lot!
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