Sarcophagus

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A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek sarx meaning "flesh", and phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos the word came to refer to the limestone that was thought to decompose the flesh of corpses interred within it.

Common forms

Sarcophagi were most often designed to remain above ground, hence were often ornately carved, decorated or elaborately constructed. Some were built to be freestanding, as a part of an elaborate tomb or series of tombs, while others were intended for placement in crypts. In Ancient Egypt, a sarcophagus formed the external layer of protection for a royal mummy, with several layers of coffins nested within, and was often carved out of alabaster.

Sarcophagi – sometimes metal or plaster as well as limestone – were also used by the ancient Romans until the early Christian burial preference for interment underground, often in a limestone sepulchre, led to their falling out of favor.

Other meanings

The word sarcophagus is also commonly used to describe the large concrete structure erected around the remains of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to isolate it from the environment, following the Chernobyl disaster.

The fly family Sarcophagidae derives its name similarly, and the roots of the word similarly translate to "flesh eater", though the meaning is different.

In popular TV series Stargate SG-1 sarcophagus is a device which can heal human body placed inside - even bringing them back from the dead.

See also

• List of Egypt-related topics
• List of burials in the Valley of the Kings

Death related

• Coffin
• Ossuary
• Tomb
• Burial
• Funeral
• Canopic jar
• Mummy

Places

• Great Pyramid of Giza
• Cologne cathedral
• Catacombs of Rome
• Wentworth Woodhouse
• Clazomenae
• Aachen Cathedral
• Hatshepsuts Temple
• Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor #4

People

• Alyattes II
• Balbinus
• Minos

Other

• Alabaster
• Jewish symbolism

References

External links

• Chernobyl. Dark side of sarcophagus. - video (233 MB)

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Last updated on Tuesday March 11, 2008 at 01:07:45 PDT (GMT -0700)
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