A sarcophagus (plural: sarcophagi) is a box-like coffin, usually made of stone and decorated with art, carvings, or inscriptions. The word comes from Greek roots meaning “flesh-eating”, because people once believed a special type of limestone would make a body break down fast. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

History and Cultural Uses

• Ancient Egypt: Kings and rich people used heavy stone boxes to keep mummies safe. These containers had holy pictures and text to help the soul.
• Ancient Rome: Romans carved marble and stone with stories of gods, battles, or family life.
• Greek and Etruscan: Artists built clay and stone tombs shaped like small houses or with figures of the dead lying on top. [1, 2, 3]

Modern Meanings

• Engineering: People sometimes use the word sarcophagus to describe a massive cover made of steel and concrete built to seal off dangerous sites, like the damaged reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant.[1]

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