Tombstone Tuesday-Exedra Monument

Exedra is a rather unusual cemetery monument, usually seen in larger cemeteries.

The word exedra is a Greek word meaning “out of a seat.” Exedra were curved stone benches used by the Ancient Greeks for seating at public events and for entertaining in private homes. The Greeks carried this tradition into their cemeteries, where they positioned curved benches around the grave. This made a suitable place for family and friends of the deceased to gather and converse while still focusing on the deceased.

Here are two local examples of exedra:

Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima, Allen Co Ohio

Greenlawn Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio

This is a good example of the circular seating area with graves in the center:

Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima, Allen Co Ohio

Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima, Allen Co Ohio

The exedra in modern cemeteries is often a straight bench and the family name is often inscribed on it.

In Ancient Greece the grave was sometimes topped with a table-tomb monument, where food and wine was placed and served.

Sometimes Greek-style columns are located near the exedra.

Greenlawn Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio

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