Remember Me: Grave Edition Trivia Quiz

Answer: Seattle, Washington, USA

Jimi Hendrix, a legendary singer and rock guitarist, was born in Seattle in 1942. He died in London on 18 September 1970 following a drug overdose.

The inquest into his death found large quantities of barbiturates and some amphetamines and cannabis but with no evidence either way as to whether it was intentional or not, so he declared an open verdict. The official cause of death was actually "Inhalation of vomit due to barbiturate intoxication."

He was originally buried in a simple grave next to his mother in the Park where he remained until 32 years later. His father finally regained the rights to his music catalogue in 1995 and could afford a more fitting tribute but it took another 7 years for the project to be finally complete and Jimi and his family to be reinterred.

The end result is the magnificent tomb showed in the picture. The original headstone is inside the canopy with the huge etched portrait on the wall. The frescoes around the outside contain lyrics to his songs and the headstones around the memorial are family plots that were also moved.

Answer: John Keats

John Keats was born in England in 1795 and contracted tuberculosis and became symptomatic in 1818. Despite being unwell he created his biggest works during the following 2 years, composing 5 of his most famous odes within a two-month period.

He moved to Rome in 1820 hoping the weather would help his worsening disease but he succumbed to the illness the year after.

At that time, he had received criticism and mostly negative reviews for his work which is why he made the strange request to have his grave remain nameless and for its sole inscription to read "Here lies one whose name was writ in water".

His friends followed his wishes but added a comment above it which states:
"This grave contains all that was mortal, of a young English poet, who, on his death bed, in the bitterness of his heart, at the malicious power of his enemies, desired these words to be engraven on his tomb stone."

Robert Browning was a Victorian poet and died in 1889 at 77 in Venice, Italy.
Rupert Brooke was a Georgian poet who died in 1915 in Skyros, Greece at only 27.
Alexander Pope was a satirical poet during the Enlightenment, he died aged 56 in London, England.

Answer: Vatican City

A baldachin, also known as a baldaquin, is a ceremonial canopy over an altar or throne. Typically made of rich fabric, metal or stone it is often supported by columns and adorned with intricate decorations.

When they are found in churches or cathedrals over prominent and important religious spaces such as altars or tombs, the more correct term is a ciborium except for the Bernini Baldachin in St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

St Peter's Baldachin is a large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy over the high altar in the Basilica. It is at the centre of the cross and directly under the dome of the basilica marking the place of Saint Peter's tomb underneath.

St Peter is considered the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church, and he is believed to have been buried on Vatican Hill. The present basilica, a smaller one was built in the fourth century, was built between 1506 and 1626.

St Peters grave itself is in the Vatican Necropolis which is 5-12 metres beneath St Peter's Basilica with other graves dating back to the 1st century.

These are not to be confused with the Vatican Grottoes which are situated directly below St Peter's Basilica and have the graves of over 90 popes, royalty and other dignitaries.

Answer: Memphis' Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis

Elvis Presley died from a heart attack on 16 August 1977 at only 42 years old. His funeral took place two days later in Memphis, Tennessee. A large motorcade with a white Cadillac hearse followed by 14 white Cadillac limousines made the 2.5-mile trip from Graceland to a mausoleum inside the Forest Hill Cemetery. Approximately 80,000 people lined the street to say farewell as the funeral itself was a private affair.

Elvis was buried next to his mother, Gladys, at the cemetery. There was an attempt shortly afterwards to steal the coffin and hold it for ransom and although this was a poorly planned event it led to discussions of others attempting something similar and the decision was made to move the tomb.

In 1964 Elvis had created what he called a Meditation Garden with a fountain and pergola, and it was decided that this would become his final resting place. Both he and his mother were reinterred here on 3 October 1977. It also includes a memorial to his twin brother Jesse who was stillborn.

In later years other family members have joined them. His father Vernon in 1979, Grandmother Minnie in 1980, his only grandson Benjamin in 2020 and daughter Lisa Marie in January 2023.

Answer: Stratford, Warwickshire

The grave belongs to William Shakespeare (1554 - 1616) renowned English playwright and poet. Shakespeare's grave is located inside Holy Trinity Church at Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, the church in which Shakespeare was baptised and where he was buried in the chancel two days after his death. He is buried next to his wife Anne Hathaway and eldest daughter Susanna.

His grave is the simple stone structure you can see in the picture. The epitaph is believed to have been written by himself as warning or curse to not disturb his grave. In modern English it reads:

"Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones."

There is also a funerary monument, carved in pale blue limestone that is mounted on the north wall of the chancel.

There was later talk about moving his body to Westminster Abbey but it was decided against - maybe that warning worked after all. A life size white marble statue of him was finally erected in the Poets corner at the Abbey in 1741.

Just as a side note: Stratford-Upon-Avon is referred to as just Stratford too.

Answer: Nurse

Cavell was born in 1865 in Norfolk, England. She trained as a nurse in London and eventually became the Matron of the Berkendael Medical Institute in Brussels.

With the start of the war in 1914, and German occupation of Belgium, it was converted to a Military Hospital treating both wounded German Soldiers and British prisoners of war.

Cavell treated both sides with no discrimination in their care, but she was also responsible for helping over 200 of the Allied Soldiers to escape to neutral Holland and return to active duty. During war this was a death penalty offence under German military law.

When her crime was discovered she was arrested, imprisoned and forced to confess. A sham trial sentenced her to death, and she was taken, executed by firing squad and buried on the spot which now has a plaque listing the 35 people executed there.

At war's end her remains were repatriated to England. After an elaborate funeral at Westminster Abbey in London, attended by the Royal Family and hundreds of British notables, she was buried on the church grounds at Norwich Cathedral.

The inscription is:
To the Pure and Holy Memory of Edith Cavell who gave her Life for England 12th October 1915. Her name liveth for evermore."

Answer: Mansfield, Missouri

Laura Ingalls Wilder, born1867 in Wisconsin, was an American writer known for her "Little House" book series, which chronicled her childhood and family's pioneer experiences in the American Midwest during the late 19th century.

Laura, her husband Almanzo and 7 year old daughter Rose moved to Mansfield, Missouri in 1894 where they built their home, Rocky Ridge Farm, and lived the remainder of their lives.

Almanzo died on 23 October 1949 after suffering two heart attacks and Laura died eight years later on 10 February 1957. They are buried side by side with daughter Rose buried next to them.

Laura was born in Pepin, Walnut Grove is where they moved to in "On the Banks of Plum Creek" and where the TV show was set. De Smet, South Dakota is where they move out to in "By the Shores of Silver Lake" and the rest of the books are all set here.

De Smet graveyard contains the graves of Charles (Pa), Caroline (Ma), Mary, Carrie and Grace. It also has the grave of Laura and Almanzo's unnamed son who died from unknown causes a day before he would have been four weeks old. The stone just reads: Baby, son of A.J. Wilder.

The only other family grave is that of Charles Frederick Ingalls, who the family called Freddie, the son of Charles and Caroline who died at 9 months of age. Freddie was born between Carrie and Grace. His grave is in Wabasha County, Minnesota, USA.

Answer: Scientist

Sir Isaac Newton, born in 1642, was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer and author. He is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists in history.

He died in his sleep in London and was given a ceremonial funeral, attended by nobles, philosophers and other scientists. He was buried in Westminster Abbey among kings and queens and was the first scientist to be buried there.

Newton's monument stands in the nave against the choir screen to the north of the entrance to the choir. It is made of white and grey marble and has a sarcophagus with large scroll feet and a marble relief panel.

The relief is very detailed showing seven boys all using instruments or things related to Newtons mathematical, optical or Master of the Mint work - a telescope, a prism, steel stick balancing the sun and the planets, pots of coins and a furnace.

Newton himself reclines on the sarcophagus leaning on books representing his published works. He is pointing at the two cherubs who hold paper representing his convergent theory.

All of this is against a background of a pyramid with a globe containing the signs of the Zodiac, Urania the muse of Astronomy sits on top of the globe.

Answer: St Martin's Parish Church, Bladon, Oxfordshire

Winston Churchill, born in 1874, was a towering figure in British politics and a pivotal leader during World War II. His powerful oratory and unyielding resolve rallied the British people in the face of Nazi aggression. He died on 24th January 1965 from complications following a stroke.

Churchill was born at his family's ancestral home, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. On his father's side he was a member of the British aristocracy as a direct descendant of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.

The Dukes and Duchesses of Marlborough are interred in the Blenheim Palace chapel but all other members of the Spencer-Churchill family are buried at the parish church, St Martin's graveyard at nearby Bladon.

His wish to be buried with his parents, brother and other family at the churchyard was honoured after he was given a huge state funeral at St Pauls Cathedral in London. His body had been lying in state at Westminster Hall and he was taken down the river to the Cathedral where his funeral was attended by representatives from 112 nations.

In total contrast the burial itself was a private affair with only relatives and close friends in attendance.

Westminster Abbey did not forget him however. Just inside the entrance, near the grave of the Unknown Warrior, an Italian green marble memorial stone was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II which reads:

"Remember Winston Churchill in accordance with the wishes of the queen and parliament the dean & chapter placed this stone on the twenty fifth anniversary of the Battle of Britain. 15 September 1965."

Answer: B

In the 1780s citizens were banned from burying corpses within the city limits of Paris so new cemeteries had to be constructed outside the capital. The four new ones were Montmartre in the north, Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the east, Passy Cemetery in the west and Montparnasse Cemetery in the south.

Pere Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most famous and visited cemeteries in the world. Established in 1804 it serves as the final resting place for numerous notable individuals making it a cultural and historical landmark. Three of its most notable graves include these three mentioned: A - Jim Morrison, C - Oscar Wilde and D - Edith Piaf.

B is Hector Berlioz who is buried at Montmartre Cemetery which is officially called the Cemetery of the North but as it sits at the base on Montmartre Hill it is generally referred to by this name.

Other notable figures buried there include the artist Edgar Degas, painter Gustave Moreau and writers Emile Zola and Alexandre Dumas II. The graves and tombs are adorned with sculptures and art, reflecting the cultural richness of the individuals interred.

Berlioz was a 19th century composer and conductor and was a key figure in the Romantic era of classical music. His unconvential approach to structure and harmonies led to resistance from traditional composers but he is now recognised as a cornerstone of Romantic musical expression.

Berlioz died in 1869, at the age of 65, after a long illness and his original grave was a simple, dignified grave marker. In 1969 the government proposed moving his remains to the Pantheon but this idea was vehemently opposed by his fans. In 1970 they raised the money to replace his weathered tomb with this new one in black granite.