![]() Chasing that illusion often means waging a losing fight against time, keeping our minds occupied with trivial matters and chasing after objects that don’t bring true satisfaction. The growing tendency of our culture is to deny death in order to live in the illusion that we can stay forever young and that our life goes on forever. Remembering death encouraged to separate the soul from the mundane heaviness and all the traps that it contains, such as the fact of postponing our goals indefinitely, filling our days with urgent but unimportant things or worrying uselessly about inconsequential issues. Otherwise, it was understood that the deceased had led a righteous life and was prepared to be reborn in the afterlife. If the heart outweighed the feather, it meant that person had died guilt-ridden and had done wrong, so he/she would be eaten by Ammit, a mythological beast. On the other plate was placed an ostrich feather, a symbol of the goddess Maat. It is no coincidence that the ancient Egyptians – a culture from which the Romans drew – had the tradition of weighing the heart on a psychostasis or balance. And it pushes us to get rid of the habits that hinder us to go through life with a lighter baggage. It encourages us to leave behind our fears, concerns and doubts. That reminder helps us see pleasure and pain with different eyes. In fact, it reminds us that we die a little each day, so we must begin to detach ourselves from all banal things and worldly ambitions. The difference is subtle but important as it is not only a reminder of our mortality but also an exhortation to prepare for that moment in life. The phrase “memento mori”, which is often mistranslated as “remember that you will die”, actually also has another meaning when analyzed in a more correct translation: “remember that you must die”. The hidden meaning of the phrase “memento mori” In this way everyone, from peasants to bishops and emperors, was reminded that worldly enjoyments come to an end and everyone must die. In the Danse Macabre, a genre that originated in the late Middle Ages but became popular during the Renaissance, skeletons impersonating death danced with people, regardless of class. ![]() Many works of art placed in churches, for example, also recall the theme of death to induce viewers to meditate on the meaning of life. However, until the 20th century, remembering one’s own death was not something negative, but rather an encouragement to lead a virtuous, good and meaningful life. Today’s society does not like to think too much about death and prefers to live outside of it because we consider that it is something too depressing or morbid for current sensibility. In the 17th century, for example, in the cloistered order of the Trappist friars, they often repeated the phrase “memento mori” to each other and even dug their graves a little each day in order to always keep their death in mind and not lose the meaning of life.Īlthough at first it may seem gloomy, the truth is that the phrase “memento mori” is an invitation to reflect on the brevity of life and the vanity of human ambitions. Many other civilizations made it their own over time. ![]() That reminder was not exclusive to the Romans. In this way, when a victorious general was celebrated in procession through the streets of the city, he was also reminded of his death to prevent him from incurring excessive pride. In that same sense, the phrase “memento mori” was used to remind those great men that regardless of their exploits and glories, the epilogue would be the same for everyone. Hominem te memento”, which meant “Look behind, remember that you are a man”. To avoid this, a slave – precisely one of the humblest servants – was in charge of reminding him of his human and mortal nature (limited and perishable) whispering to him: “Respice post te. However, those achievements and praise could make a dent in his “ hubris“ leading to a state of pride, excess and arrogance that made him develop a true delusion of omnipotence. It is said that it comes from an ancient Roman custom: When a general returned to the city after a great victory over his enemies on the battlefield, he would parade through the streets on a golden chariot receiving the applause and cheers of the crowd. What is the origin of the phrase “memento mori”?Īccording to the Galileo Galilei Institute in Turin, the origins of this phrase go back to Roman society, which had developed a special sensitivity towards death and life. A reminder that could radically change our lives, in a positive sense. ![]() People were very aware of the Latin phrase “memento mori”, which literally means “remember that you must die”. ![]() Centuries ago, the social approach was very different. In fact, in the last decades our society has developed a true phobia of old age and death, which, far from making us happier, plunges us into a loop of frustration, pushing us to pursue unattainable goals. We are not eternal, although we often live as if we were. ![]()
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