TED-ED: Mysteries of vernacular: Sarcophagus - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

The video explores the term 'sarcophagus,' a stone coffin often decorated with carvings. Its history is intriguingly grotesque, tracing back to the Roman Empire. The Greek term 'sarkophagus' originally described limestone believed to dissolve flesh, a notion popularized by Pliny the Elder. The word combines Greek 'sark' (flesh) and 'phagein' (to eat), aptly describing a coffin's purpose.

How did the meaning of 'sarcophagus' evolve from its original context?

What is the significance of the phrase 'flesh-eating stone' in relation to sarcophagi?