sarcophagus for 23 September 2025

Sarcophagus Latest News

The first-ever scientific dating of a sarcophagus (terracotta coffin) found recently in Kilnamandi village in Tiruvannamalai district indicates that Tamil Nadu might have had trade contact with the north during the time of the Late Harappan civilisation.

About Sarcophagus

• Used to bury leaders and wealthy residents in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, a sarcophagus is a coffin or a container to hold a coffin. 
• They were intended to be displayed above ground, but they were sometimes entombed or placed in burial chambers.
• The word "sarcophagus" comes from ancient Greek words. Sarx means "flesh," and phagein means "to eat." So, "sarcophagus" literally means "flesh-eating." 
• This name came from a special type of limestone that people believed could help bodies decompose quickly.
• First used in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, the sarcophagus gradually became popular throughout the ancient world. 
  • The earliest stone sarcophagi were used by Egyptian pharaohs of the 3rd dynasty, which reigned from about 2686 to 2613 B.C.E.
• It carried over through the later years of European society, often used for high status members of the clergy, government, or aristocracy.
• Features:
  • They differ in detail from one culture to another. 
  • They are almost always made of stone, limestone being the most popular, but sometimes of granite, sandstone, or marble.
  • Sarcophagi were elaborately decorated with carvings, images, and writing, usually including the name of the person who died.
• Archaeological Significance:
  • Sarcophagi are important artifacts for archaeologists and historians because they provide insights into the art, culture, and beliefs of the societies that created them.
  • The carvings and inscriptions on sarcophagi often contain valuable historical information.
• Example: The most famous Egyptian sarcophagus is perhaps the golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun.

Source: TOI