Often associated with ancient civilisations, a 'sarcophagus' is a type of what?

A sarcophagus is a stone coffin or a container to hold a coffin. Although early sarcophagi were made to hold coffins within, the term has come to refer to any stone coffin that is placed above ground. The earliest stone sarcophagi were used by Egyptian pharaohs of the 3rd dynasty, which reigned from about 2686 to 2613 B.C.E.

Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife, and the sarcophagus was to be the eternal dwelling place of those within it. The sarcophagi of pharaohs and wealthy residents were elaborately decorated with carvings and paintings. The earliest sarcophagi were designed for the pharaohs of Egypt and reflected the architecture of their palaces. Egyptians believed that remembering a person’s name would ensure that he or she would live on in the afterlife, so a sarcophagus also typically included the name of the person or people buried within.

In addition to ancient Egypt, ancient Rome and Greece are also known for using sarcophagi. The carvings on the sarcophagi and the treasures within continue to surprise and delight historians and scientists, giving insight into ancient cultures.