Epitaphios

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A written tribute commemorating someone who has died, often inscribed on a gravestone
2. A poetic or mournful inscription that honors the memory of the deceased, frequently found in cemeteries
3. A memorial expression that reflects on the life and virtues of a person who has passed away, typically carved in stone

Etymology: "Epitaphios" is a Greek word meaning "over the tomb" or "funeral oration," built from "epi" ("upon") and "taphos" ("tomb" or "burial"). In the Orthodox Church it names a richly embroidered cloth depicting the dead Christ, carried in procession on Good Friday and laid on a tomb-like table, a sense that is far older than the English word it lent to the modern language. The noun also belongs to classical Athens, where a public funeral speech for the war dead was called an "epitaphios logos." Thucydides preserves one such speech, delivered by Pericles, though the form itself predates him. Over time the word narrowed from the spoken eulogy to the written lines carved on a stone, which is how English uses "epitaph" today.

Synonyms: funeral hymn, lament, dirge