Thursday, September 23, 2010

Yes, I'm a Taphophile...


Taphophilia (from Wiki) is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries.  The singular term is a taphophile.  Taphophilia involves epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of (famous) deaths.  An example of an individual's expression of taphophilia is the character Harold in the movie Harold and Maude.  Taphophilia should not be confused with necrophilia, which is a sexual attraction to corpses.


Yep, I'm one.  I love walking through cemeteries and reading the gravestones, trying to piece together the families and their history.  The heavy energy is sometimes very overwhelming, and I have to leave.  Making gravestone rubbings is also a favorite way to kill a Sunday afternoon, although I have had to explain on several occasions that I am not a vandal.  When you clean and prepare a gravestone (remove the mold and lichens) to do a rubbing, you actually prolong the life of the stone by one-hundred years.  Once people understand what you are doing, they don't mind. 


I found these photos online while doing some research on local abandoned cemeteries.  I was unable to find the exact location, but one site said it was in Italy.  There are also some very interesting photos here and here.  Enjoy!  Are you a taphophile?

MOON SONGS #6 of 99

This one reminds me riding in Mom's brand new 1976 Cutlass Supreme.  Good times...

Peace, love, and happiness,
Earth Mother

9 comments:

Oldfool said...

I don't seek them but I don't avoid them either.I find a special peacefulness in them especially if they are old.
I find myself talking to the dead just in case they can hear me.
Thanks for the new word.

Chris 'Frog Queen' Davis said...

I too love old cemeteries. And that is a great example of art. Awesome.

Cheers!

Unknown said...

Why yes...as a matter of fact I am. My family think's it crazy that if we go on a vacation or even a sunday drive that I want to get out and roam the cemeteries in the area.

The stone's in this blog are most unusual. I've never seen one quite like this. Very cool, very cool indeed. Going to check out the links. I will do a post here soon with some of my photos I've taken of some stones.

Jeanne said...

Hi! My name is Jeanne and I am a taphophile. And I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Emerald Window said...

I love cemetaries also and took some fabulous photos of headstones in England a few years ago.
A friend of mine held a formal dinner of 4 for herself, her husband and another couple on their 25th anniversery in our old pioneer cemetary. Ladies wore blood red satin gowns, husbands were in black tux's. Waiter was also in a black tux. They got some stares, but it was a memory that they will always cherish.
Cenya

Lyn said...

I love cemeteries too. My husband and I often take a stroll around our local graveyards - there's something magickal about them!

Kelly Jeanette Swift said...

Did not know there was a name for us cemetery lurkers. Glad to know this.

Sinderella's Studio said...

I, too, love cemeteries. While I was a single parent - I bought this cute little house across the street from a small cemetery. I soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo loved that house. 900 sq ft. - still my favorite place. Even my boys - who wer embarassed at the time - say it was great. Halloween was spectacular and it was so peaceful in a good way! Each year my husband and I go to Key West and ride bikes through the cemetery. It's beautiful!
cheers, dana

Mary Bennett said...

Why yes, yes I am!! I started taking photo's when I was in my 20's, because I saw one of our oldest cemeteries vandalized, and I wanted a record of what had been. I've been hooked since. The stories, the engravings,...

I'm here from the PM party.

Mary
marynate.blogspot.com