Memento Mori

Memento Mori

I found this stone in the churchyard of the Baptist Church in Kegworth, Leicestershire, England. I love these early skull carvings. The Memento Mori inscription means "remember death".

There are some good examples of the use of symbols on this stones. The crossed thigh bones can appear with or without a skull, but are representative of mortality. The skull and accompanying bones are believed to be what is needed for resurrection. 

Here is the stone in full. On the shoulders we can see draped urns. Urns are representative of the soul and when draped form a classical representation of grief or mourning.

The inscription reads:

Beneath this stone

Lie the earthly Remains of

Richard Crane     Sarah

Who departed        Wife of

This mortal Life         Richard Crane

February 25th 1818       Who died July 27th

                          1846