A keepsake or souvenir that serves as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
From Latin 'momento,' the imperative form of 'meminisse' meaning 'remember,' literally 'be mindful.' The phrase 'memento mori' (remember death) was common in medieval times, and the word gradually came to mean any object that triggers memory.
Mementos are humanity's attempt to anchor fleeting experiences in physical form - a rebellion against the ephemeral nature of memory. The word itself is a command from ancient Rome: 'remember!' - making every memento a tiny imperative whispered across time.
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