Cenotaph

A cenotaph is a monument erected to honor people whose remains are not available for burial, often soldiers killed in war. The term comes from the Greek kenos, "empty," and taphos, "tomb." Cenotaphs are typically memorials for those buried elsewhere or whose bodies were never recovered.

Unlike tombs or mausoleums, cenotaphs are not intended to contain human remains; they symbolize the loss and serve as a focal point for collective mourning and remembrance.

Cenotaphs are commonly placed in prominent public spaces and used in official ceremonies, such as national remembrance days. They may honor a specific regiment, a nation, or a class of war dead, including Unknown Soldiers.

One of the best-known examples is the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, a simple stone imperial memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and unveiled in 1920 to commemorate British and Commonwealth forces who died in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

Throughout the world, cenotaphs form part of national and local war memorials, reflecting the universal practice of honoring those who died far from home when their remains could not be recovered.