Memento Mori \ Me-men-to-mo-ri (L)Lit- , Remember to die, i.e. , that you must die, a
warning to be prepared for death, an object, as a death’s head or a
personal ornament, usually emblematic, used as a reminder of death. (Webster’s Revised Dictionary)
Memento Mori is a Latin phrase that translates into “remember that you are mortal,” “Remember you will die,” or “Remember your death”. The various translations share the same purpose, which is to remind people of their own mortality.
The term Memento Mori is believed to have first been used on a triumphant victory parade by a Roman general through the streets of ancient Rome. Walking behind the general was a slave whose sole purpose was to remind the general that today he may be victorious but tomorrow was another day, he did this by repeating the words “ Memento Mori’’.
The artistic interpretation of Memento Mori is shown in the form of the symbolic still life paintings known as Vanitas, from the Latin meaning “emptiness’’. These paintings were very popular with artists from Flanders in the 16th and 17th century. The human skull is the most widely used symbol. Other symbols used in these paintings depicting the passing of time included hourglasses, flowers losing petals, rotting fruit, smoke, candles, wine and insects. Works of art executed in the vanities’ style were meant to remind the viewer of the transcience of life, the futility of pleasure and the certainty of death.
Gentlemen in previous centuries had a skull made of bronze or other materials (or indeed a real skull) on their writing tables to remind them of the short period of time they are on this earth.