Page "Epitaph" Paragraph 3

Some are quotes from holy texts, or aphorisms.

One approach of many epitaphs is to ' speak ' to the reader and warn them about their own mortality.

A wry trick of others is to request the reader to get off their resting place, inasmuch as the reader would have to be standing on the ground above the coffin to read the inscription.

Some record achievements ( e. g., past politicians note the years of their terms of office ).

Nearly all ( excepting those where this is impossible by definition, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ) note name, year or date of birth, and date of death.

Many list family members and the relationship of the deceased to them ( for example, " Father / Mother / Son / Daughter of ").