damnatio memoriae
Erasure from history
Damnatio memoriae is the ancient Roman practice of erasing a disgraced person from official memory—destroying statues, removing names from inscriptions, striking records.
The Latin means "condemnation of memory." The term now describes any systematic attempt to erase someone from history: The regime subjected him to damnatio memoriae, removing his image from all photographs.
Banishment from a group
- excommunicationFormal barring from sacraments
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- proscriptionFormal ban or condemnation
- banishmentForced removal from place
exile · expulsion · shunning · blacklisting · unperson · nonperson · airbrushing · deplatforming
Total destruction or erasure
- expungementOfficial record removal
- effacementAct of erasing completely
- deletionRemoval of content
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
excision · defacement · chiseling · overwriting · palimpsest · abrasion · scratching · hammering
Extreme public disgrace
- dishonorLoss of respect
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- ignominyState of dishonor
- opprobriumSevere public disapproval
odium · stigma · notoriety · vilification · denunciation · disrepute · degradation · reproach
ostracism
Banishment from a group
- excommunicationFormal barring from sacraments
- anathemaIntensely detested thing
- proscriptionFormal ban or condemnation
banishment · exile · expulsion · shunning · blacklisting · unperson · nonperson · airbrushing · deplatforming · cancellation
obliteration
Total destruction or erasure
- expungementOfficial record removal
- effacementAct of erasing completely
- deletionRemoval of content
redaction · excision · defacement · chiseling · overwriting · palimpsest · abrasion · scratching · hammering · removal
infamy
Extreme public disgrace
opprobrium · odium · stigma · notoriety · vilification · denunciation · disrepute · degradation · reproach · discredit
emperor
Male ruler of empire
- senatus consultumRoman Senate's official ruling
- NeroTyrannical first-century ruler
- CaligulaDepraved third Roman emperor
inscription · monument · statue · relief · coin · bust · frieze · arch · column · forum
damnatio memoriaeapotheosis
Peak or deification
deification · canonization · beatification · enshrinement · immortalization
damnatio memoriaerehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
exaltation · sainthood · sanctification · veneration · lionization
damnatio memoriaenaming rights
Purchased naming authority
state funeral · lying in state · mausoleum · memorial service · cenotaph
memory, memorial, damned, memento, remembrance, memorize, damning, condemnation, immortalize