01 n. A species of limestone used among the Greeks for making coffins, which was so called because it consumed within a few weeks the flesh of bo…
pl.
Sarcophagi, Sarcophaguses ((#))
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1.
A species of limestone used among the Greeks for making coffins, which was so called because it consumed within a few weeks the flesh of bodies deposited in it. It is otherwise called lapis Assius, or Assian stone, and is said to have been found at Assos, a city of Lycia. Also: lapis Assius, Assian stone
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2.
A coffin or chest-shaped tomb of the kind of stone described above; hence, any stone coffin.
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3.
A stone shaped like a sarcophagus and placed by a grave as a memorial.