Karl Marx's Tomb

Karl Marx's Tomb

Near a small hill in northwest London lies a cemetery where the great revolutionary mentor of the world proletariat, Karl Marx, rests. Highgate Cemetery is a tranquil burial ground. The site is dotted with white crosses, greenery, and seasonal wildflowers. Marx's original grave is not far from the new one—it was originally located in a quiet part of the cemetery where Marx, his wife Jenny, their grandson Harry Longuet, and their housemaid Helena were buried. It was there that Engels delivered his famous speech at Marx’s graveside.

The original grave was enclosed by a rectangular marble railing, with a marble slab standing in front of the tomb inscribed with the names of those buried together. On March 14, 1956, British workers and people from around the world jointly reconstructed Marx's tomb. The new tomb is situated in a slightly more spacious area in the northeast corner of the cemetery. It is built of granite in the shape of a square column, standing eight feet tall. In front of the tomb stands an 1.22-meter-high bronze bust of Marx atop a 2.44-meter-high granite gravestone. The shining golden letters "WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!" are engraved at the top of the stone. At the center of the gravestone is embedded a white marble plaque bearing Marx's birth and death dates. The base of the tomb also features one of Marx’s famous quotes: "Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." The surroundings of Marx’s tomb are lined with evergreen pine and cypress trees, and visitors often lay wreaths and flowers at the site.