larnax

L1A1R1N1A1X8
UK/ˈlɑːnæks/US/ˈlɑɹnæks/

noun

A small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn often used as a container for human remains in Ancient Greece.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

nounlarnax (plural larnakes or larnaxes)

plural larnakes · plural larnaxes

  1. 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 24
    3 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 101

    Burial 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 Canaan

    Black 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

Also see

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekλάρναξ
  2. Englishlarnax

Borrowed from Ancient Greek λάρναξ (lárnax).

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
APA

larnax. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/larnax

MLA

“larnax.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/larnax. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “larnax,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/larnax.

Source: larnax on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.