Greek Roots and Sarcophagus Terminology

The video explores the word 'sarcophagus', a stone coffin often decorated with carvings. Its history is traced back to the Roman Empire, where the Greek term 'sarkophagus' referred to limestone believed to dissolve flesh, as noted by Pliny the Elder. The word combines Greek 'sark' (flesh) and 'phagein' (to eat), reflecting its transformation from 'flesh-eating stone' to 'stone coffin'.

What is a sarcophagus typically adorned with?

• Metal engravings

• Jewels

• Decorative carvings or inscriptions

• Paintings

Where does the word 'sarcophagus' originate from?

• The Byzantine Empire

• Medieval Europe

• The early Roman Empire

• Ancient Egypt

What did the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder claim about the limestone used in sarcophagi?

• It was indestructible

• It could dissolve flesh

• It was rare and expensive

• It was used for building temples

What does the Greek word 'sarkophagus' refer to?

• A type of stone

• A type of coffin

• A type of ritual

• A type of burial ground

What does the Greek root 'sark' mean?

• Stone

• Flesh

• Eat

• Coffin

What is the meaning of the Greek verb 'phagein'?

• To eat

• To carve

• To bury

• To build