Even far from any sea, this maritime object adorns certain graves at Père-Lachaise as a symbol of hope and steadfastness in the face of death. What is it?
The answer
The anchor, a Christian symbol of hope since the earliest centuries, recalls that faith holds the soul steady just as an anchor holds a ship, even in a storm. It is found on several graves at Père-Lachaise, with no connection to any maritime profession of the deceased.
This question belongs to the “Symbols and Allegories” series of the Père-Lachaise quiz: ten questions, a story behind every right answer.