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HISTORY OF HEADSTONES
By Cara Links
Part Four
Understanding Epitaphs
Decoding old epitaphs can for the beginner be difficult when the stone has been written in Latin some phrases found on old stones
A.D. -Anno Domini: -In the Year of Our Lord
Ad mairoem Dei gloriam :- For the greater glory of God( the motto of the Society of Jesus)
Adsum:- Here I am
Aetatis suae;- Of his ( or her) age. On its own Aetis ;- 'Of the age' while aetatis suae means 'in the particular year of a person's life'. Many tombstones had such inscriptions as "DIED AETATIS SUAE 87', OR 'AS 87'. Sometimes the expression appeared as 'anno aetatis suae ( in the year of his or her age).
Aeternum vale;- Farewell forever
Amicus humani generis:- A Humanitarian a philanthropist.
Beatae memoriae" Of blessed memory
Consummatum est :- It is completed ( Christ's last words on the cross John 19:v30).
Dei gratia:- By the grace of God.
De mortuis nihil nisi bonum: Speak kindly of the dead.
Deo favente:- With God's favour. Sometimes appears on gravestones as an alternative to Deo gratias ( Thanks to God)
Deus misereatur:- May God have Mercy.
Domino optimo maximo:- To the Lord God, supreme ruler of the world ( The motto of the Benedictine Order).
Durante vita :-During life
Errare Humanum est: To err is human.
Et sequentes ( sequential):- And those that follow.
Ex voto:- According to one's wishes
Fama semper vivat:- May his ( or her) good name live forever.
Fecit:- Made it
Floruit:- ( often expressed as fl.)He or she flourished . This is sometimes placed on tombstones when the exact date of birth is not known.
Hic Jacet:- Here lies
Hoc loco :- In his place
In memoriam :- In memory of
In perpetuum: Forever. Sometimes in Pperpetuo.
Natus est: Born
Obiit:- He or she died
Obiit sine prole:- he or she died without issue
Requiescat in pace:- May he or she rest in peace. Sometimes as Requiescant in pace ( May they rest in peace)
Respice finem:- Look before you leap. The full adage from which this is taken is Quidquid agas prudenter agas et respice finem ( Whatever you do, do with caution, and look to the end).
Resurgam: I shall rise again.
Sic transit Gloria mundi:- So passes away the glory of the world. A popular epitaph from De Imitaition Christi by Thomas A Kempis the German mystic.
Siste viator:- Stop traveller
Sit tibi terra levis: May the earth be light upon you.
Terras es, terram ibis:- Dust thou art, to dust thou shalt return.
Tempus figiy:- Time flies
Vixit ---- annos :- He or she lived (a certain number of years ).
Relationships although there are alternatives to express same relation these below were the most common on epitaphs
Pater;- Father
Mater-Mother
Filius- Son
Filia - Daughter
Uxor- Wife
Maritus-Husband
Socer: father In law
Socrus- mother in law
Gener- son in law
Nursus- Daughter in law
Amita- Aunt
Patrius-Uncle
Consobrinus- Cousin ( male)
Consobrina- Cousin ( female)
Homo-Man
Femina- Woman
Infans- Child
Puer- Boy
Puella- Girl
Avus- Grandfather
Avia - Grandmother
 A History Of Irish Headstones Part 5 by Cara Links
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