Definition

Noun: A symbolic or physical object that serves as a reminder of death and the impermanence of life. It is intended to encourage reflection on mortality and the transient nature of earthly pursuits.

Usage

The term is used to describe an object, image, or phrase that prompts contemplation of death. It is often employed in philosophical, artistic, or religious contexts to inspire humility and a focus on spiritual or meaningful living.

Examples

• The skull on the scholar's desk was a memento mori, urging him to use his time wisely.
• In many classical paintings, a wilting flower or an hourglass acts as a memento mori.
• The phrase "remember you must die" is a traditional memento mori.

Advanced Usage

• As a philosophical concept: Used to denote the practice of reflecting on mortality as a means to live a more authentic or virtuous life.
  • Stoic philosophy often incorporates the idea of memento mori as a tool for maintaining perspective.
• In art history: A genre of art, especially prevalent in the medieval and Renaissance periods, dedicated to this theme.
  • The vanitas still-life paintings from the 17th century are full of memento mori symbols.

Variants and Related Words

• Vanitas (n): A related genre of symbolic artwork, especially still-life painting, that emphasizes the emptiness of earthly life and pleasures, often incorporating memento mori elements.
• Memento (n): A general object kept as a reminder of a person or event. is a specific type of memento.

Synonyms

• Reminder of mortality
• Vanitas symbol (in art)

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Dust to dust": A phrase from a burial service that echoes the sentiment of memento mori, emphasizing the return of the physical body to the earth.
• "Sic transit gloria mundi" (Latin: "Thus passes the glory of the world"): A phrase expressing the transient nature of worldly achievements, closely related to the concept of memento mori.

Noun

1. a reminder (as a death's head) of your mortality