Memorial Inscriptions : Some Examples To Inspire You
Headstones of famous people can be found in graveyards and cemeteries around the world, and many of them contain epitaphs and inscriptions written by the deceased. These inscriptions, far from being depressing, are often very interesting.
Take, for example, the headstone of William Shakespeare, which reads (translated into modern English): “Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here, Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones”.
The reason for this somewhat strange inscription is that he lived in fear of his body being dug up or moved after his death. Fortunately, Shakespeare’s grave, which is in the Holy Trinity Church in the English town of Stratford has remained, as he desired, untouched.
John Keats’s headstone, which is in Rome, is engraved with the design of a lyre with broken strings, which was contributed by Keats’s friends Joseph Severn and Charles Brown, and contains no mention of his name. He wanted it to read only: “Here lies one whose name was writ in water”.
His friends, however, later added the following: “This grave contains all that was mortal of a young English poet who on his death bed in the bitterness of his heart at the malicious power of his enemies desired these words to be engraven on his tomb stone”.
The location of Robin Hood’s headstone is at a Cistercian priory in Kirklees in England has been visited by thousands upon thousands of people over the years. Unfortunately, it is not actually where he was buried!
The original headstone disappeared some time after 1660. A replica was made, but this was chipped to pieces by 18th-century canal workers who were convinced that a little bit of Robin Hood’s gravestone would cure toothache.
By using Google images, you will find lots of images of headstones belonging to famous people. Finding out what your deceased heroes decided to leave as their final parting message can really make you see them in a new light.
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To celebrate the launch of their new website, ‘Granite Memorials‘ are running a competition to find the most interesting and witty inscription on a famous personality’s headstone. Send your photos, explaining where and when you took them and why you feel it should rank in the Headstones Hall of Fame, for more info please visit http://www.granite-memorials.co.uk
