Humanities History & Culture Sarcophagus Share Flipboard Email Print Sarcophagus and Mummy. Patrick Landmann/Cairo Museum/Getty Images History & Culture Ancient History & Culture Egypt Basics Major Figures & Events Ancient Languages Greece & Sparta Asia Rome Literature Mythology & Religion American History African American History African History Asian History European History Family History & Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More by N.S. Gill's Ancient/Classical History Glossary Updated March 08, 2017 Definition: Sarcophagus refers to the carved, generally stone case in which the linen-wrapped mummy was placed. The gilded sarcophagus of King Tut with painted face depicting the boy king is probably the best known of the Egyptian sarcophagi. Sarcophagus can be used to refer to a coffin -- especially one of stone. The plural of sarcophagus is usually sarcophagi, although it is sometimes written as sarcophaguses. Sarcophagus comes from the Greek for flesh-eater. Featured Thursday's Term to Learn. Pronunciation: särkof'ugus• (n) Also Known As: Mummy Case Continue Reading