Sarcophagus

ancient history · burial · stone · archaeology

Stone coffin container. A sarcophagus is a coffin made of stone, often carved with beautiful designs and patterns. Many were displayed above ground rather than buried, making them impressive monuments to remember the dead.

Greek name origin. The word sarcophagus comes from two Greek words: sarx meaning "flesh" and phagein meaning "to eat." Put together, it literally means "flesh-eating stone," which sounds spooky but actually describes how the stone worked.

Special limestone magic. Ancient people used a particular type of limestone to make sarcophagi because they believed it had special chemical properties that helped bodies decompose faster. This special stone was so famous for this job that the stone itself became known as sarcophagus stone.

Honoring the dead. Sarcophagi were often fancy and decorated because they were meant to show respect and honor for important people like kings, queens, and wealthy families. These stone coffins became works of art in their own right.