The Empty Tomb at the Heart of London

The Cenotaph is a war memorial designed as an empty tomb. Because most soldiers were buried where they fell abroad, this structure represents their absence rather than housing their remains.

The word cenotaph comes from Greek, literally meaning empty tomb. It was built to provide a place of mourning for families whose loved ones were buried in distant war zones. Originally a temporary structure for a 1919 parade, it became so iconic that over a million people visited it in just one week. Today, it serves as the official site for national remembrance in the United Kingdom.