Pendentives Architecture

There are four pendentives within the mausoleum to signify different stages throughout Grant's life: birth, military career, civil service, and death. Designed by John H. Duncan, there are virtually no contemporary accounts that interpret the meaning of the four allegorical characters in the pendentives, but upon visiting the tomb, General Horace Porter made a passing reference to them as being "emblematic of the birth, military and civic life, and death of General Grant."

According to the Historical Resource Study by David M. Kahn, the interpretations are as follows.

Birth Pendentive

A tree of life serves as a foil for two figures: the one on the left holds an open book, a symbol of the learning that takes place in one's youth, while the other holds a distaff, symbolizing the woman's domain, or the home where Grant was reared

Military Life Pendentive

Both figures hold martial emblems referring to the General's military life. The figure on the left clutches a large sword with a lion's head hilt and a shield adorned with Medusa's image, and the figure on the right has a helmet tucked under her arm

Civilian Life Pendentive

An allegorical figure on the left holds a palm bough signifying victory. The other figure supports a cornucopia wrapped with garland and symbolizing the prosperity brought on by the end of the war. Between the figures is the Roman faces, alluding to Grant's authority while President

Death Pendentive

What is probably intended to be a votive lamp rests on top of a pedestal between the two figures. The figure on the right holds a globe which may have been intended to represent "eternity"