---
title: Roman Memento Mori, Bronze
author: Science Museum
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10478/roman-memento-mori-bronze/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Roman Memento Mori, Bronze
_Authored by Science Museum_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/10478.jpg)
## Image Caption
A little over 110 mm (4.3 inches) high, this small [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) figure of a skeleton is a "memento mori" (Latin for "Remember you must die"). These figures were handed out at gatherings and celebrations, as a reminder of the threat of mortality which loomed even during times of festivity. This example is unusual because its left arm was used to replace its missing right leg. Made c. 199 BCE - 500 CE, the figure is now a part of the collection of the [Science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/) Museum in London, UK.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Museum, S. (2019, April 19). Roman Memento Mori, Bronze. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Museum, Science. "Roman Memento Mori, Bronze." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 19, 2019. .
### MLA
Museum, Science. "Roman Memento Mori, Bronze." *World History Encyclopedia*, 19 Apr 2019, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://collection.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/co90020/memento-mori-roman-199-bce-500-ce-memento-mori) by **Science Museum**. Submitted by [Arienne King](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/ava.spartan.117/ "User Page: Arienne King"), published on 19 April 2019. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.