Woman, Holding Anchor

WOMAN HOLDING ANCHOR -  A female, typically shown wearing Roman Stola and Palla garments, stands with one arm resting on or holding an anchor.  This is often an Anchored cross meaning hope and is the primary symbol of the statue.  Often, the opposite arm is raised with the index finger of the hand pointing towards the sky. This symbolizes the pathway to heaven.  A hand held over the heart symbolizes faith.  Other key elements can be a broken chain attached to the anchor or sometimes hanging from the neck. This symbolizes the cessation of life.  Many statues have a single five pointed star rather than a circle of stars.  The star is on the top of the forehead, usually on a Crown of Immortality or diadem, and represents the immortal soul.

(KJV Heb 6:19) - Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;