Dictionary

larnax en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈlɑːnæks/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈlɑɹnæks/ (General-American)

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek λάρναξ (lárnax).

Meanings

1. (historical) A small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn often used as a container for human remains in Ancient Greece.
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • 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:

Forms

Translations (7)

pl larnaks (small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn) · grc λάρναξ (small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn) · el λάρνακα (small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn) · id larnaks (small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn) · xcl լեառնակ (small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn) · de Larnax (small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn) · el λάρναξ (small closed coffin, box or cinerary urn)