A sarcophagus (plural: sarcophagi) is a stone coffin, often elaborately decorated, used in ancient times to bury the dead—especially among Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and later cultures influenced by them.

🏺 Etymology

The word sarcophagus comes from Greek:

• "sarx" (σάρξ) = flesh

• "phagein" (φαγεῖν) = to eat
  → Literally: "flesh-eater" — because some stone types (like limestone) were believed to decompose the body more rapidly.

🏛️ Types and Cultural Uses

🇪🇬 Ancient Egypt

• Most famous use.

• Pharaohs and nobles were placed in ornate sarcophagi, often nested:

  • Inner coffin (wood or gold),

  • Middle coffin,

  • Outer stone sarcophagus.

• Decorated with hieroglyphs, protective spells, and images of gods to aid in the afterlife journey.

🇬🇷 Ancient Greece

• Less elaborate, often marble.

• Sometimes used as public monuments or for elite burials.

• Depicted mythological scenes or personal achievements.

🇮🇹 Ancient Rome

• Became more common as cremation gave way to burial.

• Richly carved in relief: battles, gods, daily life, or philosophical scenes.

• Sometimes placed in mausoleums or underground catacombs.

⚰️ Symbolism and Mysticism

In occult or esoteric traditions, sarcophagi aren’t just coffins—they symbolize:

• Transition between worlds (life → afterlife).

• The “womb-tomb”: a vessel of death and rebirth.

• In some ritual magic and alchemical texts, a sarcophagus can represent the stage of putrefaction—necessary death before transformation.