History, Symbolism

Headstone Symbols – In Hoc Signo Vince

When we walk among the many and varied grave markers anywhere in the world, we notice that while some are elaborate and complex in their imagery, others convey a message about the deceased in a simple yet significant way. This next symbol we are about to study is of a simple design – the three letters I, H and S overlaid upon one another.

The letters signify the Latin phrase ” In hoc signo vince”, which in English means: “In this sign you shall conquer”.

This phrase originates from the Emperor Constantine, who, on his way to do battle against Maxentius for the right to rule Rome, witnessed above the bright noon day sun a vibrant cross, and below that cross the Greek words, “Ev Touwtwi vika”, which was later translated into Latin, “In hoc signo vince”. According to legend, Constantine failed to understand the vision’s meaning until the following evening. While Constantine slept, Christ appeared to him in a dream and revealed the meaning of the message, and gave him instruction that he was to use a symbol known as the “Chi Rho” , to aid his army in defeating his foes. The next morning when he awoke, Constantine ordered his troops to paint the divine symbol on their shields.

The two armies collided later that morning, and as Christ revealed, Constantine’s army defeated Maxentius’s forces.

Whether or not we believe the otherworldly particulars as fact, one definite truth cannot be contested – Constantine won the Battle Of The Milvian Bridge and became supreme ruler of Rome. And as a result, Christianity became legal in Rome under Constantine’s rule.

Another interesting point to note is that, while this symbol appeared on Roman Shields all throughout Constantine’s rule, he himself did not become baptized until he was on his death bead. Historians speculate that in order to keep a government of predominantly practicing Pagans at ease, he himself had to exhibit neutrality.

To the right is one of many examples of the “Chi Rho” symbol.


Posted by Chris
Monday, June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
9 Comments
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  1. Constantine was not baptized on his death bed. He was baptized after winning the battle of Milvian Bridge. He put the Chi Ro symbol on his battle shield, won and became a Christian and declared Rome a Christian state…FYI

    Comment by Zach — August 1, 2008 at 12:21 am #

  2. It is impossible to declare history, many of it’s mystery’s still hang, no-one can be exact about the truth of christian past and the roman empire, though art tells a vague story. Also anyone with some pretty awesome clues to try figure out a MAJOR roman(Vatican) themed treasure hunt, please send me images or ideas (man_at_door@hotmail.com).
    PS watch angels&demons; it’s amazing! inspired me to look into roman history and majorly the illumati

    Comment by Andre — May 19, 2009 at 7:53 pm #

  3. Why exactly would someone put that on a headstone though? I’m doing some research on symbols and was just curious about this one.

    Comment by Haily — June 5, 2009 at 8:53 pm #

  4. The gravestone of my great-grandmother (a christian who died on the Isle of Wight,UK in 1932) bears the “IHS” symbol as above in the centre of a large stone cross. I don’t know why this symbol was used in particular. I only just found out its meaning from this website.

    Comment by Mike — July 24, 2009 at 1:48 pm #

  5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Decline_of_Greco-Roman_polytheism

    Constantine’s ‘private/personal’ Christianity as opposed to his public (and wholly political) paganism is now well established by scholarship of his personal correspondence. As emperor, he was necessarily Pontifex Maximus of an officially and legally pagan state: had he neglected the duties of the office, the first ill omen or natural catastrophe would have served as “proof” of the anger of the gods at his neglect of them, and been sufficient provocation to depose or assassinate him. Constantine did not “convert on his death bed”: he was baptized on his deathbed which was a common practice in that time as in the 4th century many people feared there was no absolution for post-baptismal sin. It is evident from the sources that he had been inclined towards Christianity from and early age — his mother was a Christian, after all –that he had been considering converting for some time, and that the crucial change of mind came at the time of his famed vision of Christus Victor.

    Comment by Michael — September 9, 2009 at 6:01 pm #

  6. The gravestone of my great-great-great-grandfather, who died in 1858, has exactly this symbol. I emailed an Oxford University historian about it who told me this:

    “IHS” is commonly seen on gravestones. It’s a Christogram(abbreviation for the name of Jesus) reading IHS (“Iesus hominumsalvator”, or in English “Jesus, men’s saviour”).

    Comment by A Smith — November 27, 2009 at 5:56 am #

  7. A Smith, thank you for the comment. While doing research for this article, I did come across that meaning for “Chi Ro” symbol. However the sources for this article listed that translation as less relevant.

    Comment by Chris K — November 28, 2009 at 11:46 am #

  8. I FOUND A SIMILAR PIECE IN MY DADS BASEMENT MADE OUT OF COPPER IT HAS THE 3 AND THE P INSIDE THE CIRCLE BUT ALSO HAS THE WRITING AROUND IT THAT SAYS IN HOC SIGNOSI RICI VINCES SHAPED LIKE A HORSESHOE.

    Comment by AMY — December 16, 2009 at 1:34 am #

  9. IHS is also the symbol the Jesuits use

    Comment by MCknightMalta — January 6, 2010 at 10:27 pm #

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