Final words

Do you know what is written on Frank Sinatra's tombstone? Take a look!

Image: Greg Bulla

Derived from the Greek epitaphios meaning "a funeral oration," epitaphs are quotations or phrases carved on a grave to honor a deceased person. These poignant inscriptions —some written with a great sense of humor— portray the final thoughts and legacy of the departed. From famous writers to rockstars and Wild West outlaws, here's a selection of our 12 favorite celebrity epitaphs!

Image: Scott Rodgerson

The epitaph inscribed on Emily Dickinson's tomb reflects her characteristically concise style: "Born Dec.10.1830, Called back May.15.1886". This inscription, simple yet loaded with meaning, captures the essence of her work, marked by an economy of words and emotional depth.

The phrase is taken from what is believed to be her last letter, which simply read: "Little Cousins, Called Back. Emily." In addition, Called Back is the title of a novella by Hugh Conway that the poet was fond of. Dickinson, one of the most important figures in American poetry, lived a life of isolation but left a poetic legacy that continues to resonate with readers even today.

Image: By Steven Pavlov - Own work, CC0

Jimi Hendrix, one of the most influential guitarists in rock and roll history, left a simple but powerful epitaph: "Forever in Our Hearts". This inscription, along with a carved Stratocaster guitar, celebrates his contribution to the world of music and his lasting impact on his fans.

Hendrix, known for his virtuosity and innovative style, remains an iconic figure in the music world despite dying at a young age. Thanks to this epitaph, his memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him and in future generations.

Image: Nate Biddle

Mel Blanc, the legendary voice actor known for voicing iconic Looney Tunes characters, left an epitaph featuring his most famous catchphrase: "That's all folks".

This iconic line from the cartoons that entertained generations of viewers pays tribute to his career and his impact on popular culture. Blanc, who lent his voice to characters such as Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck, remains a beloved figure, and his epitaph ensures that the laughs will go on forever.

Image: By KRichter - probably own picture (see original filename), Public Domain

Edgar Allan Poe was best known for his gothic poetry and short stories. Despite being one of America's most famous writers, his grave remained unmarked after his death. Twenty-five years later, his family managed to raise enough money to install an epitaph honoring his most famous poem, "The Raven."

Edgar Allan Poe's epitaph reads: "Quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore.’" The connection between his resting place and his most celebrated work emphasizes Poe's lasting influence on literature, ensuring that his legacy will continue to fascinate and inspire future generations of readers.

Image: Marco Rickhoff

Film director Billy Wilder, known for films such as Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina, and The Seven Year Itch, had a keen sense of humor. So it's no wonder he left an epitaph that reflects his knack for satire and his distinctive wit.

"I'm a writer, but then nobody's perfect" is the inscription on the grave of the seven-time Academy Award-winning director, a reference to the iconic final line of his film Some Like It Hot. This epitaph not only pays tribute to his film career but also attests to his ironic and positive perspective on life.

Image: By JayHenry - Own work, Public Domain

Francis Scott Fitzgerald, one of the best American novelists of the 20th century, is best known for his fabulous portrayal of the 1920s Jazz Age. Fitzgerald lived like his characters, surrounded by glamour, melancholy, and excess. Unfortunately, his career, though successful, was short. He died of a heart attack at the age of 44 and is now buried alongside his wife Zelda at St. Mary's Church Historic Cemetery in Rockville, Maryland.

Written on their gravestone is the last line from his greatest novel, The Great Gatsby: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Image: By Don English (1901-1964); Paramount Pictures - Heritage Auctions, Public Domain

Marlene Dietrich, the iconic German-American actress and singer, left an epitaph that reflects her elegance and poetic sense: "Hier steh ich an den Marken meiner Tage" ("Here I am standing at the border stones of my days").

Dietrich, known for her glamorous persona and exotic looks, was one of the highest-paid actresses of Hollywood's golden age. The phrase on her gravestone in Berlin, though laden with melancholy, is also a tribute to her career in the arts, and her lifelong humanitarian efforts.

Image: Pierre Antona

Jim Morrison, the charismatic leader of The Doors, left an epitaph that reflects his rebellious spirit and philosophy of life: "Kata ton daimona eaytoy" ("True to his own spirit", in classical Greek).

This inscription is carved on a bronze plaque at his resting place at the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris, one of the most visited graves by fans from all over the world. The simple but poignant phrase manages to convey the essence of Morrison as an artist who lived by his own rules. His epitaph, as well as his musical and poetic legacy, continues to inspire those who seek to live authentically.

Image: By Missouri State Archives

Jesse James, the famous Wild West outlaw, was treacherously murdered by his friend Robert Ford when he was only 34 years old. His mother, outraged by this heinous act, recorded her grievance on his epitaph: "Murdered by a traitor and coward whose name is not worthy to appear here."

This inscription, loaded with resentment, reflects the controversy and myth surrounding the figure of James. The original grave site is located in the backyard of the James family farm in Kearney, Missouri. The Jesse James Birthplace Museum, open for tours, displays family artifacts and, of course, Jesse's original epitaph.

Image: Andrea Piacquadio

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the popular British rock group Queen, has one of the most famous epitaphs among rock stars. Freddie died at the young age of 45 and was cremated at West London Crematorium in Kensal Green Cemetery, where there is now a cenotaph in his honor that reads: "Lover of life, singer of songs".

The touching phrase, penned by bandmate Brian May, accurately describes the complex figure of one of the greatest showmen ever. Freddie’s theatrical stage appearances captured the world's attention in the 1970s but he will always be remembered for his incredible voice, flamboyant style, and unparalleled talent.

Image: By Diagram Lajard - Own work, Public Domain

Frank Sinatra, legendary singer and actor, left an epitaph that reflects his unwavering optimism: "The best is yet to come". This phrase, which is also the title of one of his most famous songs, embodies a sense of hope and the promise of a better future.

For his fans, Sinatra's epitaph is a reminder of his musical legacy and indomitable spirit. But it is also a testament to his enormous legacy, a wonderful voice that will continue to resonate long after he is gone.

Image: By Syd Storm - Own work, CC0

John Keats, one of the great British poets of Romanticism, died of tuberculosis in 1821 when he was only 25 years old. Despite his young age, he left us a remarkable body of work that remains among the most popular and analyzed in English literature still to this day.

Knowing himself to be very ill, Keats had only one last wish, to be buried under a tombstone bearing no name or date, only the words, "Here lies One whose Name was writ in Water." Pretty poetic, don’t you think?

OLDER THAN OLDIES

Ancient Melodies: The 10 Oldest Songs Ever Recorded

Image: Denny Müller

Music is one of the most ancient human arts. Like echoes from the past, ancient melodies can still convey the emotions, beliefs, and cultures of our ancestors.

From religious hymns to music of celebration, we gathered some of the 10 oldest songs ever recorded in human history (so far). Join us and listen to the enchanting music of past times!

Image: Dakota Roos

Date composed: 13th Century C.E.

"Sumer Is Icumen In," often translated as "Summer has arrived," is one of the earliest examples of a _round_in Western music (a type of canon for at least three voices). Believed to have originated in the 13th century in England, this lively song celebrates the arrival of summer with its cheerful melody and lyrics. Amusingly, the song also exhibits one of the oldest recorded uses of the word "fart."

Image: John Wiesenfeld

Date composed: 6th Century C.E.

Jieshi Diao Youlan, often translated as "Solitary Orchid," is possibly the oldest surviving piece of written music from East Asia. The ancient Chinese melody dates back to the 6th century C.E., and it was originally composed for the guqin, a traditional seven-string musical instrument. The melody is renowned for its nuances, particularly in the form of microtones - in music terms, intervals that are smaller than a semitone. A curious effect of this technique is that it makes the melody sound almost modern to contemporary listeners.

Image: Denny Müller

Date composed: 4th Century C.E.

The "Te Deum" is a Christian hymn of praise dating back to the 4th century C.E. Traditionally attributed to Saints Ambrose and Augustine, it is still sung in churches around the world. The name comes from the phrase "Te Deum laudamus," Latin for "Thee, God, we praise." The ancient hymn is often used during special occasions such as the election of a pope, the consecration of a bishop, or the canonization of a saint.

Image: Timothy L Brock

Date composed: 4th Century C.E.

Another ancient hymn with roots in early Christian Greek liturgy, "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" was originally written for the Liturgy of Saint James, and is still used in many orthodox Christian churches around the world. However, the modern version is actually a reconstruction that combines a translation of the original Greek lyrics with a French medieval folk tune named "Picardy."

Image: Mike Labrum

Date composed: 3rd Century C.E.

"Phos Hilaron," also known by its Latin name "Lumen Hilare," is one of the oldest known Christian hymns, dating back to the 3rd century C.E. Sung during vespers, or evening prayers, it is also known as "Lamp-lighting Hymn," because it is associated with the lighting of lamps at night. While its composition is sometimes attributed to St. Basil, who lived between 329 and 379 C.E., some sources claim that St. Basil himself said that the hymn was already old at his time.

Image: Claire Satera

Date composed: 3rd Century C.E.

Discovered in Egypt among the Oxyrhynchus papyri in 1918, the "Oxyrhynchus Hymn" is written in Greek vocal notation and thought to be one of the earliest surviving Christian hymns, dating back to the 3rd century C.E. Despite not drawing from the Bible (at the time yet to be written), and the fact that only fragments of its lyrics are preserved, the hymn does reference important Christian elements such as the Holy Trinity.

Image: Caglar Araz

Date composed: 1st Century C.E.

The Seikilos Epitaph, discovered on a funerary stele in Turkey, is the oldest complete surviving musical composition. Both the lyrics and musical notation of the short song are inscribed in the pillar, and it is thought to have been written by a man named Seikilos to his deceased wife called Euterpe, or alternatively, to the Muse of Music. Since the inscription is clear and the type of notation is known, researchers had no problem in fully reconstructing the ancient melody.

Image: Elimende Inagella

Date composed: 2nd century B.C.E

The Delphic Hymns are a pair of Ancient Greek musical compositions dating back to the 2nd century B.C.E. Composed for the Pythian Games - celebratory competitions similar to the Olympic Games - held at the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi, these hymns honor the god Apollo and invoke his blessings on the athletes and participants. While neither of the songs is complete, there are modern reconstructions that attempt to piece together the surviving fragments.

Image: Mick Haupt

Date composed: 1st Millennium B.C.E.

The "Song of Songs," also known as the Song of Solomon, is a collection of ancient Hebrew poems dating back to the 1st millennium B.C.E. Found in the Hebrew Bible, these passionate and poetic songs are unique in the fact that they do not explore explicitly religious teachings but rather celebrate love, desire, and the beauty of human relationships. Although there are no surviving melodies or notations associated with the poem, modern musicians have composed vocal and instrumental accompaniments to the text.

Image: Egor Myznik

Date composed: 1400 B.C.E

Dating back to the Neolithic, the Hurrian Hymn No. 6 is the oldest known song in existence. Discovered on a clay tablet in Ugarit, Syria, this hymn was written in the Hurrian language and is dedicated to the goddess Nikkal. The tablet also includes instructions to have the singer accompanied by an ancient type of harp. Historians and musicians have tried to reconstruct the song as faithfully as possible, and there are dozens of versions online if you are feeling curious.