Sarcophagus
The Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus
The Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus is
synonymous with the artefacts found in Egypt. What exactly is an
Egyptian sarcophagus and what was its purpose? Definition (plural:
sarcophagi) : A sarcophagus is a stone container that usually houses a
coffin and an Egyptian mummy. The word 'sarcophagus' is derived from
Greek words "sarx" meaning "flesh", and "phagien" meaning "to
eat". derived from a Greek word for "flesh-eating"). Early forms were
made of limestone which had the property of consuming the bodies placed
in limestone coffins which the Greeks called sarcophagus lithos
(flesh-eating stone). The name sarcophagus was eventually applied to
stone coffins in general which were not sunk underground. The Egyptian
interpretation of the word was the 'possessor of life' whereas we would
believe the interpretation should be more akin to 'possessor of death'.
The Ancient Egyptian interpretation of 'possessor of life' relates to
their belief in the afterlife and that the deceased would eventually be
reborn.
History and
Description
The Ancient Egypt sarcophagus was usually the external layer of
protection for a royal mummy, with several layers of coffins nested
within. An Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus was highly decorated with ornate
carvings and paintings. A typical
sarcophagus were carved with hieroglyphs and reliefs, both internally
and externally. The earliest type of stone sarcophagus were used by the
Egyptian Pharaohs of the 3rd Dynasty. This early type of sarcophagus
were designed to represent the palaces of the Pharaoh reflecting the
architecture complete with false doors and windows. By the 11th Dynasty
the sarcophagus was designed like a rectangular box. The sarcophagus of
the Pharaohs from much later dynasties were shaped to resemble the human
form with a carved portrait head of the Pharaoh. The materials used to
make a sarcophagus ranged from stone to metal which included the most
magnificent type of sarcophagus which were made of solid gold. During
the 18-20th Dynasties the outer sarcophagus enclosed a series of inner
coffins, also referred to as shrines, the last of which would contain the royal mummy of the Pharaoh.
Tutankhamun - King Tut
The Tutankhamun Sarcophagus (King Tut's ) was made of yellow quartzite.
It contained three gold coffins nested within each other, like Russian
dolls. Inside the final coffin was the mummy of the Pharaoh
Tutankhamun - King Tut. For comprehensive information please click the
following link:
King Tut
Sarcophagus
The
Ramses II Sarcophagus
The tomb of Ramses II is massive covering more then 820 square meters
(8,800 square feet). Unfortunately the tomb was subjected to destruction Tomb rubbers and only fragments of the sarcophagus of
Ramses II have survived. The sarcophagus of Ramses was decorated inside and out with carved scenes and
hieroglyphics from spells taken from the Book of Gates. The figure of
the pharaoh stood out, in light relief, on the lid. The sarcophagus of
Ramses II was once entirely encrusted with coloured pigments and faience,
a trace of which are visible on a number of fragments.
Sarcophagus
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