Headstones of famous people can be found in cemeteries around the world, and lots of them contain epitaphs and inscriptions written either by or about the deceased. These inscriptions, far from being simply morbid, often make interesting reading.
Take, for example, the memorial stone for 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 morbid fear of his body being dug up after he had been buried. Fortunately, his grave, which is in the English town of Stratford has remained, as his wishes, untouched.
John Keats’s headstone, which is in Rome, is adorned with the design of a lyre with broken strings, which was added by Keats’s friends Charles Brown and Joseph Severn, and makes no reference to 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 site of Robin Hood’s grave is at a Cistercian priory in Kirklees, which is in England, has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Unfortunately, it is not actually where he was buried!
The original grave slab went missing around 1660. A replica was made, but this was chipped to pieces by canal workers in the 18th century who were convinced that a little bit of Robin Hood’s headstone would cure toothache.
With some research, you will probably find that there are a few headstones in cemeteries near which commemorate famous people from past times. Though it may not make a great hobby as such, spending a day checking out these makes for an interesting and cheap day out.
Alternatively, you can just use Google images, where you will find plenty of pictures of famous headstones. Learning what your deceased heroes decided to leave as their farewell message can really add something to way that you think about them.
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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://smsh.me/7vye
