As with other conifers, due to their shape that points to the sky (heaven), cypress trees are often used as a symbol of immortality, elevation, hope and mourning.
The cypress is very often represented on sarcophagi. As a hard and resistant wood, it was often used to carve idols and coffins.
It is one of the oldest classical mourning symbols used in Western and Eastern societies. It was known by the Greeks and the Romans as the “mournful tree” (Romans would carry branches of cypress as a sign of respect, and bodies of the respected were placed upon cypress branches previous to the internment). It is still very common to found cypress trees planted in both Christian and Muslim cemeteries to help ward off evil spirits.
It is believed that cypress was one of the woods used in Christ’s crucifixion cross.