Larnax

The Larnax is a term used in archeology and denotes a made ​​of terracotta, often embellished with rich ornaments coffin. In a narrower sense, it refers to a casket made ​​of gold, in which the bones were mostly kept a nobleman. This box was located again in a sarcophagus. In the Hellenistic world were monumental mausoleums, the thus contained Larnaxe widely used as burial grounds for the ruling class.

One example is the artfully executed tomb of Vergina, which dates from the third quarter of the fourth century before Christ. The ruler grave discovered in Macedonia includes two golden Larnax caskets with bones. The male bones were additionally wrapped in a purple cloak. Furthermore, this Larnax a wonderfully crafted oak leaf of beaten gold, and an acorn - crown was settled, indicating that the bones belonged to a king.