Behind every memento mori lies not only a warning, but also a world of fascinating stories, customs and symbols that span cultures and centuries.  

 

The photograph of the dead in the Victorian era: In the 19th century, with the spread of photography, a disturbing and poetic custom was born: the post-mortem portrait. The deceased were photographed as if they were sleeping or in natural poses, next to their living relatives. It was a way to “stop time” and preserve a last tangible memory of the loved one.  Pocket memento mori: a secret in the hand Not all memento mori were imposing or ceremonial objects. Some were small, made to be carried in a pocket or around the neck. There were lockets that opened with tiny skulls carved inside, or objects in ivory, bone or silver hidden as talismans. Carrying them meant having a constant reminder of one’s mortality: discreet, personal, intimate.   Sacred Skulls and Kapala: Impermanence According to Tibetan Buddhism In Tibet, some Buddhist ritual instruments evoke the same concept in a spiritual key. Kapala, ceremonial cups made from real human skulls, were used in tantric rituals as symbols of the illusory nature of the ego and material reality. Rather than frightening, these objects were venerated as tools towards wisdom and enlightenment.