sarcophagus

[sahr-kof-uh-guhs]

noun

plural

sarcophagi, sarcophaguses 

1. a stone coffin, especially one bearing sculpture, inscriptions, etc., often displayed as a monument.

2. Greek Antiquity.,  a kind of stone thought to consume the flesh of corpses, used for coffins.

sarcophagus

/ sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs /

noun

1. a stone or marble coffin or tomb, esp one bearing sculpture or inscriptions

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcophagus¹

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek sarkophágos, noun use of the adj.; sarcophagous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcophagus¹

C17: via Latin from Greek sarkophagos flesh-devouring; from the type of stone used, which was believed to destroy the flesh of corpses

Example Sentences

The boy king's gold-covered sarcophagus and his burial mask, inlaid with lapis lazuli, will take centre stage at Saturday's opening.

Read more on Barron's

Among the bronze and marble objects are portraits, over-life-size figures, sarcophagi reliefs and animal sculptures.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They’re lined up like figures on the carved frieze of a Roman sarcophagus, except the slight tilt of the camera has them poised to slide out of the frame.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Even after 5,000 years in a sarcophagus, mummified bodies from ancient Egypt still smell quite nice, scientists have discovered.

Read more on BBC

The boy-king's priceless collection is yet to be displayed, but visitors can now see items varying from pharaonic statues to sarcophagi and mummified bodies.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• crate