Unmarked grave
Encyclopedia
The phrase unmarked grave has metaphor
ical meaning in the context of cultures that mark burial sites
.
As a figure of speech
, a common meaning of the term "unmarked grave" is consignment to oblivion
, i.e., an ignominious end. A grave
monument (or headstone
) is a sign of respect and fondness, erected with the intention of commemorating and remembering a person. Historically, unmarked graves in an unintentional sense are usually done for financial reasons by families that are too poor to afford a headstone, though in more recent times this has been avoided partially because the standard of living
in most countries have since improved and even in cases where the families still can't afford a headstone, one is usually donated from a family friend or other charitable organization. Professional wrestler
Sylvester Ritter, better known as the Junkyard Dog
, is a recent example of a notable grave without a headstone.http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18405
Even when a person's remains are lost, a cenotaph
may be erected. This is what happened to comedian
John Belushi
. The gravestone at his grave in a Martha's Vineyard
cemetery was removed and relocated, after operators of the cemetery found many signs of vandalism and rowdiness, where his body lies. A cenotaph
gravestone was erected at a nearby empty grave, to detour disrespectful visitors, leaving his actual final resting place without a marker. Another John Belushi cenotaph
gravestone was erected by his family, in a Chicago area cemetery at the Belushi family plot, where his parents are now buried. Similarly, when H.P. Lovecraft's headstone in Providence, Rhode Island was stolen, a replacement marker was erected in a different location.
.
Unmarked graves have long been used to bury executed criminals. More recently, the practice has been to cremate
and secretly scatter the ashes of notorious criminals in some anonymous place. This was the fate of Nazi war criminals such as Hermann Goering, Fritz Sauckel
, Julius Streicher
and Adolf Eichmann
. The remains of British
serial killers Myra Hindley and Dr Harold Shipman were treated in the same way. Cremation and secret scattering of the ashes has the additional effect of removing all possibility of there being a grave for someone to visit in the future.
, in which contact with a corpse confers uncleanness (see Numbers 19:11-22 and Tractate Oholoth in the Mishna), an unmarked grave opens up the possibility that a pious Jew could become defiled without being aware that it happened. The Jews of early times, therefore, sought to avoid unmarked graves by two means: clearly designating cemeteries beyond the limits of their villages and cities, and making graves and tombs obvious by whitewashing them. This is the background for Jesus
' comparison of the Pharisees
of his time to white-washed tombs (see Matthew 23:27-28) and to "unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it" (Luke 11:44). Jesus warned that the Pharisees were defiling others by their hypocrisy, misplaced priorities, and selfish ambition.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
ical meaning in the context of cultures that mark burial sites
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.
As a figure of speech
Figure of speech
A figure of speech is the use of a word or words diverging from its usual meaning. It can also be a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words in it, as in idiom, metaphor, simile,...
, a common meaning of the term "unmarked grave" is consignment to oblivion
Oblivion
Oblivion may refer to:*The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, a 2006 video game*Oblivion , a Marvel Comics character*Oblivion , a 1994 western/science fiction film from Full Moon Entertainment...
, i.e., an ignominious end. A grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
monument (or headstone
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
) is a sign of respect and fondness, erected with the intention of commemorating and remembering a person. Historically, unmarked graves in an unintentional sense are usually done for financial reasons by families that are too poor to afford a headstone, though in more recent times this has been avoided partially because the standard of living
Standard of living
Standard of living is generally measured by standards such as real income per person and poverty rate. Other measures such as access and quality of health care, income growth inequality and educational standards are also used. Examples are access to certain goods , or measures of health such as...
in most countries have since improved and even in cases where the families still can't afford a headstone, one is usually donated from a family friend or other charitable organization. Professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
Sylvester Ritter, better known as the Junkyard Dog
Junkyard Dog
Sylvester Ritter was an American professional wrestler and professional football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as The Junkyard Dog...
, is a recent example of a notable grave without a headstone.
Even when a person's remains are lost, a cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
may be erected. This is what happened to comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
. The gravestone at his grave in a Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
cemetery was removed and relocated, after operators of the cemetery found many signs of vandalism and rowdiness, where his body lies. A cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
gravestone was erected at a nearby empty grave, to detour disrespectful visitors, leaving his actual final resting place without a marker. Another John Belushi cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
gravestone was erected by his family, in a Chicago area cemetery at the Belushi family plot, where his parents are now buried. Similarly, when H.P. Lovecraft's headstone in Providence, Rhode Island was stolen, a replacement marker was erected in a different location.
Criminals
Conversely, a deliberately unmarked grave signifies disdain and contempt. The underlying intention of some unmarked graves may be that the person buried is not worthy of commemoration, and should therefore be completely ignored and forgotten, e.g., Heinrich HimmlerHeinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
.
Unmarked graves have long been used to bury executed criminals. More recently, the practice has been to cremate
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
and secretly scatter the ashes of notorious criminals in some anonymous place. This was the fate of Nazi war criminals such as Hermann Goering, Fritz Sauckel
Fritz Sauckel
Ernst Friedrich Christoph "Fritz" Sauckel was a Nazi war criminal, who organized the systematic enslavement of millions from lands occupied by Nazi Germany...
, Julius Streicher
Julius Streicher
Julius Streicher was a prominent Nazi prior to World War II. He was the founder and publisher of Der Stürmer newspaper, which became a central element of the Nazi propaganda machine...
and Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Otto Eichmann was a German Nazi and SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust...
. The remains of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
serial killers Myra Hindley and Dr Harold Shipman were treated in the same way. Cremation and secret scattering of the ashes has the additional effect of removing all possibility of there being a grave for someone to visit in the future.
Judaism
Within JudaismJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, in which contact with a corpse confers uncleanness (see Numbers 19:11-22 and Tractate Oholoth in the Mishna), an unmarked grave opens up the possibility that a pious Jew could become defiled without being aware that it happened. The Jews of early times, therefore, sought to avoid unmarked graves by two means: clearly designating cemeteries beyond the limits of their villages and cities, and making graves and tombs obvious by whitewashing them. This is the background for Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
' comparison of the Pharisees
Pharisees
The Pharisees were at various times a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews during the Second Temple period beginning under the Hasmonean dynasty in the wake of...
of his time to white-washed tombs (see Matthew 23:27-28) and to "unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it" (Luke 11:44). Jesus warned that the Pharisees were defiling others by their hypocrisy, misplaced priorities, and selfish ambition.