Plato: One of the great philosophy kings, he is simply meant to represent deep philosophy and control of outcomes. The bottom represents reflection of life (Memento Vivere), growth of wisdom, and attaining victory. Time will balance everything eventually whether you will it or not (Yin-yang within the clock). The top half of the sleeve represents reflection of death ( Memento Mori), philosophy, and grabbing hold of and controlling your time. Once I read his Meditations it was a complete reflection of my beliefs, like the few represented on my arm. “I originally got this tattoo sleeve done before studying any Marcus Aurelius or Stoicism. Tattoo done by Johnny Bravo (IG: at The Raw Canvas (IG: Chastain Thanks for bringing these amazing concepts into my Daily Stoic life.” I’ve always wanted my tattoos to have deep meaning and I couldn’t think of something more fitting than the Memento Mori and Amor Fati medallions along with the Route 91 logo and a Vegas skyline. Living through that event and in the moment being confronted with my own mortality that night gave me indescribable moments of clarity in the terms of ‘you could leave life right now.’ I had carried it in my pocket everyday for a few months to include each day as an attendee of the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas (Sept. I don’t think I could have ever imagined the coin finding as much significance in my life, as it has now. One for me and one to give to a friend who would appreciate the concept. When the Memento Mori medallions came out I almost immediately bought two. Working in law enforcement in this day and age, it was a concept I probably thought about everyday. “I started learning about Stoicism in early 2017 and most everything almost immediately rang true in my life, especially Memento Mori.

Below is a collection of some Memento Mori tattoos and the stories behind them. Harry Styles, Adam Levine, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Ellie Goulding, Kesha, and Johnny Depp are just a few pop culture icons wearing reminders of death on their skin.ĭailyStoic reached out to readers to find out how they are remembering mortality through permanent body ink.

They’ve been sources of healing, rebellion, punishment, allegiance, expression, and remembrance. The purpose of body art varies culturally and historically. One they can’t leave home without: tattoos.Įtching pigments on the body dates back tens of thousands of years, as evidenced by tattoos found on mummified preserved skin. While some put a painting on their wall or a skull on their desk, others opt for a more permanent piece of art. Skulls, hourglasses, skeletons, candles, and flowers, whether on a tombstone or a necklace, have long captured life’s fragility, time’s haste, and death’s certainty. The mediums by which Memento Mori reminders are expressed has progressed over time, but the comprising symbols have not altered. Hamlet held Yorick’s skull, Thomas Jefferson carried a Memento Mori watch key, Mozart wrote his most famous composition Requiem, and Picasso kept a skull in his studio for purposes synonymous with the slave reminding the Roman general, “ Remember, you too must die.” From the slave’s humbling whisper, Memento Mori evolved aesthetically and tangibly. But reflecting on and accepting the transient ephemeralness of our existence is the key unlocking lives of meaning and fulfillment.

Modern society regards death as an unpleasant reality best kept far from mind else awakening agonizing terror. Socrates said, “The one aim of those who practice philosophy is to practice for dying and death.” Shakespeare said, “Every third thought should be my grave.” Michelangelo said, “No thought exists in me which death has not carved with his chisel.” Tolstoy said, “If we kept in mind that we will soon inevitably die, our lives would be completely different.” Moses said, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” And Mozart said, “As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence.”

Philosophers, writers, artists, composers, and leaders since life’s inception have meditated on death habitually to motivate and inspire. “ Remember thou art mortal.” “ Remember, you too must die.” The perfect reminder during a man’s momentary immortalization. His four-horse chariot parted the streets lined with thanks-givers chanting “ io Triumphe!” The roars of “ Hurray, O Triumph” was muffled by the whisper of slave, positioned deliberately in the chariot behind his master’s throne, “ Memento Mori, Memento Mori, Memento Mori,” the slave echoed. On the day of his parade, the victor wore a crown and a purple, gold-adorned toga, otherwise reserved for kings. There was a tradition in ancient Rome to celebrate the return of a victorious military general with a drawn out spectacle to sanctify the triumphant leader.

Memento mori hourglass tattoo