What looks like countless numbers of branches endlessly intermingling with each other is actually something more. There are things hidden beneath these bushes. Whatever it is, Mother Nature took it. This is how a big portion of the graves are looking today in St Marx Cemetery.
Seeing this, gently reminded me that there is nothing eternal but the time itself. Memento Mori. With time the tombstones, without anybody to remember them, might look not much more than mere rocks. Despite the shape of St Marx Cemetery, this is the resting place of many, the garden of the dead.
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The Garden of the Dead
What looks like countless numbers of branches endlessly intermingling with each other is actually something more. There are things hidden beneath these bushes. Whatever it is, Mother Nature took it. This is how a big portion of the graves are looking today in St Marx Cemetery.
Seeing this, gently reminded me that there is nothing eternal but the time itself. Memento Mori. With time the tombstones, without anybody to remember them, might look not much more than mere rocks. Despite the shape of St Marx Cemetery, this is the resting place of many, the garden of the dead.
History of St Marx Cemetery
St Marx Cemetery is a historical burial ground found in Landstraße, the 3rd district of Vienna. It was in service between 1784 and 1874, thus the current shape of it shouldn’t be a surprise. St Marx Cemetery is most famous for being the original resting location of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. To this day people come here to visit and pay their respect to the Austrian genius composer.
Because there is no original tombstone remaining from his funeral, there is a popular belief between people that Mozart was buried in a mass grave. That is not true. There were no mass graves in the late 18th century.
Myth of Mass Burials
Emperor Joseph II forbade the further burials within the outer walls of Vienna and ordered bodies to be buried unmarked and without coffins. Despite that, the government of Vienna never followed this regulation. They were afraid that the mass burials would remind the population of the times of plague. Mozart was buried unmarked in this location but such was the standard of those days.
The Original Location of Mozart Grave
The following information comes the only informational board in the cemetery near Mozart’s grave location:
When Mozart was buried in 1791 the graves in the St Marx Cemetery were mainly shaft graves in the form of simple burial mounds with an occasional wooden cross. Therefore, even a short time later, it was difficult to determine Mozart’s exact burial place.
After extensive research, the decision was taken in 1859 to build a representative tomb at this location. That tomb was moved to the Vienna Central Cemetery in 1891 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Mozart’s death. On the initiative of cemetery attendant Alexander Kugler, this tomb was constructed in this place. It has been largely unaltered and can still be found here today in the St Marx cemetery.
Photo Tour Around St Marx Cemetery
I don’t think there are the right words to abstract the aura that St Marx Cemetery gives. I believe photography will do a way better work describing the location.
My Impression of St Marx Cemetery
It was one of those experiences once reality and expectations don’t meet each other. Yes, in terms of artisanship the cemetery is not as impressive as one could expect but it doesn’t really matter. The essence of St Marx Cemetery is its symbiosis with nature.
Walking around St Marx Cemetery gives a truly calming sense of peace. It didn’t take long until my thoughts drifted away thinking about the longevity of things.
Only two hundred years and these graves are on its way to ‘from dust to dust’. This location is literally becoming one with the earth, leaving little to no trace of your existence. Just a rusty stone and a blossoming olive, right next to the resting place. In the end, Mother Nature takes it all. One can’t escape it, even in death. St Marx Cemetery is truly the garden of the dead.