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Biography
other usesdistinguish|epigraphAn epitaph (from Ancient Greek|Greek polytonic|?p?t?f??? epitaphion "a funeral oration" from ?p? epi "at, over" and t?f?? taphos "tomb") http://www.etymonline.com/index.php? term=epitaph Online Etymology Dictionary: Epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial. An epitaph may be in poem verse; poets have been known to compose their own epitaphs prior to their death, as W.B. Yeats did.
Most epitaphs are brief records of the family, and perhaps the career, of the deceased, often with an expression of love or respect - "beloved father of ..." - but others are more ambitious. From the Renaissance to the 19th century in Western culture, epitaphs for notable people became increasingly lengthy and pompous descriptions of their family origins, career, virtues and immediate family, often in Latin. However, the Laudatio Turiae , the longest known Ancient Roman epitaph exceeds almost all of these at 180 lines; it celebrates the virtues of a wife, probably of a consul .
Some are quotes from holy texts, or aphorisms . An approach of many epitaphs is to 'speak' to the reader and warn them about their own mortality. A wry trick of others is to request the reader to get off their resting place, as often it would require the reader to stand on the ground above the coffin to read the inscription. Some record achievements, (e.g. past politicians note the years of their terms of office) but nearly all (excepting those where this is impossible, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ) note name, year or date of birth and date of death. Many list family and their relation to them; such as Father / Mother / Son / Daughter etc. of.
Notable epitaphs
Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by
that here, obedient to their law, we lie. : — Simonides of Ceos|Simonides 's epigram at Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae
I am ready to meet my Maker.
Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter. : — Winston Churchill http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/epitaphs/35.htm Famous Epitaph on Winston Churchill tomb stone
To save your world you asked this man to die:
Would this man, could he see you now, ask why? : — Epitaph for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier|Unknown Soldier , written by W. H. Auden http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/epitaphs/34.htm Famous Epitaph on Unknown Soldier tomb stone
Against you I will fling myself, unvanquished and unyielding, O Death! : — Virginia Woolf Citation | first = Virginia | last = Woolf | author-link = Virginia Woolf | title = The Waves | place = Berlin | publisher = Harcourt | year = 1931
''I've finally stopped getting dumber. : — Paul Erdos
''That's all folks. : — Mel Blanc
''If anyone at my funeral has a long face, I'll never speak to him again. : — Stan Laurel
Consider, friend, as you pass by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, you too shall be. Prepare, therefore, to follow me. : — Scottish tombstone epitaph
Epitaphs in music
In a more figurative sense, music in memory of deceased people has been composed. Igor Stravinsky composed in 1958 Epitaphium for flute, clarinet and harp. In 1967 Krzysztof Meyer called his Symphony No. 2 for choir and orchestra Epitaphium Stanislaw Wiechowicz in memoriam . Jeffrey Lewis (composer)|Jeffrey Lewis composed Epitaphium — Children of the Sun for narrator, chamber choir, piano, flute, clarinet and percussion. Bronius Kutavicius composed in 1998 Epitaphium temporum pereunti . Valentin Silvestrov composed in 1999 Epitaph L.B. (???????? ?.?.) for viola (or cello) and piano. In 2007 Graham Waterhouse composed Epitaphium for string trio as a tribute to the memory of his father William Waterhouse (bassoonist)|William Waterhouse .
