Definition: A sarcophagus is a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription, and often associated with the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece.
Etymology and Origin: The word “sarcophagus” originates from the Greek words “σάρξ” (sarx) meaning “flesh,” and “φαγεῖν” (phagein) meaning “to eat.” The term was first used to describe a type of limestone quarried in the region of Troas in ancient Greece, which was believed to decompose the flesh of corpses quickly.
