Memento mori

Memento mori, a symbol, a theme of the macabre often depicted in paintings, architecture and a concept that appears from the Medieval period till today. Most often depicted in the centre with a skull, accompanied by one or more bones. Other depictions would include an hourglass or a coffin, depicting the inevitable certainty of the human reaching towards death.

Translated directly “memento mori” would mean: “Remember death” or “Remember that you die.” Basing the fact that ever since our birth we are one second closer to our death.

Although it is a very important component of the Christian faith, as remembering death and what happens after, play a crucial role in how the person acts and behaves while alive, it can be found in multiple other fields. The ephemeral existence has a huge importance in the living days, that is discussed by Marcus Aurelius, in his work: “Meditations”.

This theme expanded to architecture where the “transi” (cadaver tomb) shows the decaying of the flesh, sculpted on the tomb of the nobles in the fifteenth century.

Some public clocks had inscription like “ultima forsan” (perhaps the last hour) symbolising that every passing second on the clock might be someone’s last on this earth. It wasn’t uncommon for the same theme to dictate the manufacture of a mourning ring, to remember a passed person.

One of the main places where memento mori can be found is in the baroque painters, in France or Spain: Philippe de Champaigne, Antonio de Pereda or Harmen Steenwijck depicted through their paintings “the vanitas” which would focus mainly on the memento mori theme, by expressing the futility of riches, wealth when it comes down to our limited time.

In literature, English authors works came into this style. “Holy living and holy dying” by Jeremy Taylor came to invite the reader to life that is filled with piety. This was later expressed more in the literary world where memento mori can be found in elegies, essentially a reflection over death in the form of a poem. One such example can be “Elegy written in a country churchyard” by Thomas Gray.

Memento mori can be found in recent works as well, it is still a major theme and a concept that provokes human to behave differently: either inclined to a more just and contempt life, without the necessity of greediness or in the opposite more inclined to a “carpe diem” (live in the moment) opposite to the discussed “memento mori”. It remains a popular and widespread expression: “the only certainty in life is death”.

Recent literary examples: One such example that can be attributed to a memento mori inspired, is the 2009 novel: “One day” from David Nicholls, or even the “Harry Potter” stories, written by the amazing contemporary author: J. K. Rowling in which the death of Harry’s parents, and even Harry’s life is heading towards death, memento mori can be said it plays a major role.