Meanings
plural larnakes · plural larnaxes
- historicalarchaeologyA small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn often used as a container for human remains in Ancient Greece.
The borders found on the sarcophagus also occur in similar positions on the terracotta larnakes.
1973, Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, volumes 37-41, page 243 more examples
In a chamber tomb at Milatos, Mr. Evans discovered in 1899 a painted larnax or sarcophagus, on which there is figured a great Mycenæan body shield.
1907, Ronald M. Burrows, The Discoveries In Crete, page 101Burial in larnaxes was first practiced in Crete in the Early Minoan period (EM) and its popularity grew in the Middle Minoan period (MM).
1992, Rivka Gonen, Burial Patterns and Cultural Diversity in Late Bronze Age CanaanBlack painted band on the upper surface of the larnax rim, extended below the rim, both inside and outside.
2005, Yiannis Papadatos, Tholos Tomb Gamma: A Prepalatial Tholos Tomb at Phouni, Archanes
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Ancient Greekλάρναξ
- Englishlarnax
Borrowed from Ancient Greek λάρναξ (lárnax).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek λάρναξ
- λάρναξ (lárnax)small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn
German Larnax
- Larnaxsmall closed coffin, box or cinerary urn
Greek λάρναξ, λάρνακα
- λάρναξ (lárnax)small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn
- λάρνακα (lárnaka)small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn
Indonesian larnaks
- larnakssmall closed coffin, box or cinerary urn
Polish larnaks
- larnakssmall closed coffin, box or cinerary urn
Cite this entry
larnax. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/larnax
“larnax.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/larnax. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “larnax,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/larnax.
Source: larnax on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.