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Memento mori

Memento mori (Latin for ´remember that you [have to] die´) is an artistic or symbolic trope acting as a reminder of the inevitability of death. The concept has its roots in the philosophers of classical antiquity and Christianity, and appeared in funerary art and architecture from the medieval period onwards.

The most common motif is a skull, often accompanied by one or more bones. Often this alone is enough to evoke the trope, but other motifs such as a coffin, hourglass and wilting flowers signify the impermanence of human mundane life. Often these function within a work whose main subject is something else, such as a portrait, but the vanitas is an artistic genre where the theme of death is the main subject. The Danse Macabre and Death personified with a scythe as the Grim Reaper are even more direct evocations of the trope.

Objects and visualizations

Relations to objects

Relief an der Christuskirche zu AmpfurthToedliche Abcontrafactur/ Weiland/ Deß Allerdurchleuchtigsten/ Großmaechtigsten/ und Unuberwindlichsten Fuersten und Herrn/ Herrn Matthiæ des Ersten/... Welcher den 10/20 Martij/ dieses 1619 Jahrs in Gott sanftt und selig endschlafenDer Jungfrauen Schawspigel Werdt/ Jch Genanndt Allen Jungfrawen/ Woll BekanndtAmmora du bist BlindtHoeffart ein Matter aller sundt/ Vom Tewffel erstlich sie begindt,/ Nach dem sie komen ist geswindt/ Uff Adam und all seine kindtAEger Homo recubat languorum podere pressus=/ Assistunt coniux, proles, moestique parentes=/ consulitur Medicus: genioru turba malor/ Et Furiae afflicti mentemque animumque fatigan
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