epitaph

An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, typically inscribed on a tombstone, gravestone, or memorial plaque. It may be in prose or verse and is intended to commemorate the life or character of the departed. The term derives from the Greek epitaphion meaning "upon tomb," from epi- "upon" + taphos "tomb," and was adopted into Latin as epitaphium before entering other languages.

In antiquity, Greek and Roman grave markers commonly bore epitaphs that identified the deceased and sometimes praised virtues or recorded a religious sentiment. In later centuries, epitaphs appeared in churches, mausoleums, and cemeteries, often elaborating on personal attributes, achievements, piety, or family ties. The form ranges from brief inscriptions to longer elegiac or Latin couplets, and some epitaphs use conventional motifs.

In modern usage, epitaphs continue to serve as memorial texts on stones and plaques. They may be simple or highly crafted, sometimes presented as short poems, rhymed or blank-verse, and can reflect religious beliefs, moral sentiments, or humorous or tender recollections. Beyond grave markers, epitaphs appear in literature as short commemorative poems or prose that memorialize a person or event.

Related topics include inscriptions, gravestones, and cenotaphs.