Before entering fully into the meaning of the term epitaph, we are going to proceed to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can establish that it derives from Greek, exactly from "epitaphius", which is the result of the sum of the following lexical components:
-The prefix "epi", which means "about".
-The noun "taphos", which can be translated as "tomb".
The notion of epitaph refers to the inscription that is placed next to a grave , tombstone or tomb . This is usually a short text chosen by the deceased or selected by loved ones.
At first the concept referred to the verses that were recited during funerals. Over time , it became associated with the aforementioned inscription. The epitaph includes certain general information about the deceased, such as their full name, date of birth, and the day of their death. Then verses or lines of text can be added that pay tribute or that invite some type of reflection.
Frank Sinatra , for example, chose for his epitaph a motto that possibly summarizes what his philosophy of life was or that aims to motivate those who come to visit his grave: "The best is yet to come" , an expression that can be translated as " The best is yet to come .
Another epitaph that became popular is that of Mel Blanc , a voice actor who provided his voice to Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. animated characters such as Bugs Bunny , Porky , and Daffy Duck . "That's all, folks," is the inscription that is read next to his mortal remains, the same one that appears at the end of the cartoons.
In the same way, there are many other epitaphs of famous people that have managed to attract powerful attention:
-The one on William Shakespeare's tomb says like this: «Good friend, for Jesus' sake, refrain from digging the dust locked up here. Blessed is the man who respects these stones and cursed is the one who moves my bones.
-The epitaph of the comedian and actor Mario Moreno "Cantiflas" makes it clear what he dedicated himself to because it says: "It seems like he is gone, but he is not."
-No less singular and curious is the epitaph found on the tomb of Donatien Alphonse François de Sade: "If I did not live longer it is because I did not have time."
-One of the most visited tombs in the United States both because of the figure it belongs to and because of his epitaph is that of Martin Luther King. It says like this: «Free at last. Free at last. Thank you almighty God. I am free at last.
-Likewise, the writer Dorothy Parker's is very unique and even humorous because she says this way: "Excuse me for my dust."