- A sarcophagus was a coffin which often remained above ground in Roman cemeteries. They were usually made of stone with elaborately carved decorations and reliefs, depending on the status of the deceased.
- They became very popular under the Roman Empire between c.100-300 CE until the Christian custom of underground burial made them fall out of fashion.
The Emperor Balbinus
- The Sarcophagus of Balbinus (c.238 CE) is the only surviving example of a Roman Imperial sarcophagus.
- It is located in the Museo di Pretastato, Park of the Caffarella, near the Via Appia, Rome.
Image: Roman Sarcophagus, Avenue des Alyscamps, Arles
Map: Museo di Pretastato, Park of the Caffarella, Appian Way