Tree Symbolism in the Christian and Jewish Tombstones of Belarus of the 19th–20th Centuries

Abstract

The article discusses the development and distribution of tree symbolism in Christian and Jewish cemeteries of Belarus in the 19th and 20th centuries. The main meanings of the symbolism of the tree and its specificity in the context of memorial culture are highlighted. The tree was known as a memorial symbol in both Christian and Jewish culture, each with its own specific characteristics and iconological tradition. In the course of the development of modernization processes and gravestone plastics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a type of gravestone appears, which is becoming common in both of these cultures. These are monuments in the form of a butt of a tree with trimmed branches, which has remained popular for over a hundred years. The origins of this type of monument, its connection with the European aesthetic movements of the 19th century are considered. A brief overview of the modern use of tree symbolism in the design of gravestones is given. The basis for writing the article is the materials of the author's expeditions to the cemeteries of Belarus.