Memento Mori

Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning "Remember you will die". It names a genre of artistic creations that vary widely from one another, but which all share the same purpose: to remind people of their own mortality.

In ancient Rome, the phrase is said to have been used on the occasions when a Roman general was parading through the streets of Rome during the victory celebration known as a triumph. Standing behind the victorious general was a slave, and he had the task of reminding the general that, though he was up on the peak today, tomorrow was another day. The servant did this by telling the general that he should remember that he was mortal: "Memento mori." It is also possible that the servant said, rather, "Respice post te! Hominem te memento!": "Look behind you! Remember that you are but a man!", as noted in Tertullian in his Apologeticus. Another phrase used in such a setting is Sic transit gloria mundi.