Tombstone with Levitical hands (ewer) from Europe

This tombstone belongs to the tradition of Ashkenazic cemeteries, where the emblem carved in relief on the stele often indicates the deceased's function or lineage. Here, the ewer and basin (sometimes a single pitcher) denote membership in the tribe of Levi: since the Levites were charged with pouring water over the hands of the Cohanim before the priestly blessing, this hereditary attribute identifies them. Other common funerary symbols include the raised hands of the Cohanim or the crown. Carved in stone, these emblems constitute an iconographic language specific to Jewish cemeteries in Europe, enabling the reading of the deceased's religious and social identity.