callumogden: Greyfriars Burial Ground, PerthWinter 2019Some 18th century gravestones in Perth, Scotl
callumogden: Greyfriars Burial Ground, PerthWinter 2019Some 18th century gravestones in Perth, Scotland.The first image is interesting to me since it’s the only grave I found with a winged skull rather than a winged head or winged cherub at the top. Seemingly this transition from a more morbid “deaths head” to a soul effigy took place around 1730 or so.In two of the images you’ll see a variation on the classic “memento mori”, instead they also also feature or exclusively feature the English “Reader learn to die” or the Latin abbreviation “Disce Mori” - learn to die. The expression has various interpretations but I like this one: Disce mori. = Learne to die A religious discourse, moouing euery Christian man to enter into a serious remerbrance of his ende. Wherein also is contained the meane and manner of disposing himselfe to God, before, and at the time of his departure. In the whole, somewhat happily may be abserued, necessary to be thought vpon, while we are aliue, and when we are dying, to aduise our selues and others.Sutton, Christopher, 1565?-1629. Beyond that there are a lot of classic trades tools which indicate the craft of the person who died. One of them has a stag which tends to symbolise wisdom, growth and regeneration. Though it’s placed in a shield here so, maybe more to do with a family or trade. Who knows!Also a lot of skulls and crossbones and hourglasses, classic association of time and the inevitability of death.Someone please do tell me why one of these has a knight on a horse though. Since it’s an 18th century stone, it feels a little out of time. -- source link