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.

What new insight or understanding did you gain from this video?