What Does Cenotaph Mean?

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 reinterred elsewhere.

What is the literal meaning of cenotaph?

In its broadest sense, a cenotaph is a memorial that honors a person or group of people buried somewhere else. The original and literal meaning of the word is “an empty tomb.” Most ancient cenotaphs were just that – a second and thus empty ceremonial tomb.

Why is it called the Cenotaph?

The word cenotaph is derived from the Greek kenos taphos, meaning "empty tomb." A cenotaph is a monument, sometimes in the form of a tomb, to a person or group of persons buried elsewhere.