Kenotaphion

Kenotaphion is a term deriving from the Greek κενόταφιον (kenotaphion), meaning "empty tomb." It is formed from kenos, empty, and taphos, tomb, and it functions as a neuter noun in Greek. In English-language scholarship, the related word cenotaph—often used today to describe a monument commemorating people buried elsewhere—ultimately traces its etymology to the same roots.

In classical Greek usage, kenotaphion can refer generally to any tomb that is empty or to the concept of an empty tomb within narrative or epitaphic contexts. In Christian literature, the term is encountered in patristic and hagiographic writings as part of discussions about the tomb of Jesus and the Resurrection, where the idea of an empty tomb is a central motif. Scholarly discussions may address kenotaphion in relation to Gospel narratives, biblical archaeology, and early Christian ritual, focusing on how the empty tomb is interpreted and depicted.

In modern English, kenotaphion is a relatively obscure technical term. The more familiar cognate cenotaph has entered common usage as a monument erected in memory of soldiers or others whose remains are not recovered, while kenotaphion remains primarily a term of philology and biblical studies. The connection between kenotaphion and cenotaph underscores their shared origin in the concept of an empty tomb, whether as a physical site or as a symbolic memory.