burial statues

[ieatbees]

When people are buried and there is a statue of them, their feet often rest on various animals - what do these mean?

I've recently seen dragons, horses, dogs, a goose/swan, an animal that looked like a big cat, and a snake.

[ieatbees]

I've just been told that a Horse meant that they died away from the home (possibly in battle) and a dog was that they died at their home - but i don't know about this.

[ieatbees]

But I think your answer In a Pickle is more plausible.

[woofgang]

there are meanings but I can't find a website. A dog means faithful, unto death, a dragon means victory over evil, as I think does a snake.

[Octavius]

Yes agree with IAP above, but depending on where you look they can have varying heraldic meaning. A dog (or tablot - hunting dog) in heraldry symolises courage, vigilance, and loyalty.

A deer means peace and harmony, a bull denotes valour, bravery and generosity. Bear = Strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindred; Boar = Bravery; fought to the death; Cat (also lion, tiger, wildcat or lynx) = Liberty, vigilance, forecast, and courage, fierceness and valour; resentment; dangerous if aroused; Horse = Readiness for all employments for king and country; Dragon = Valiant defender of treasure. valour and protection; Lion = Dauntless courage; goose = resourcefulness; swan = sincerity and harmony and snake = wisdom etc etc.

There may well be other meanings and quite likely as IAP said above, the deceased just had a fondness for his dogs.