What term is used to describe the flesh-eating casket used in ancient Egypt?

The term "sarcophagus" refers to a type of stone coffin used in ancient Egypt, and it is often associated with elaborate burial practices aimed at ensuring the deceased's safe passage into the afterlife. The name itself comes from the Greek word 'sarkophagus,' which means "flesh-eating," as these coffins were traditionally made from materials that caused the flesh of the deceased to decompose. Sarcophagi often featured intricate carvings and inscriptions, highlighting the importance of the individual they contained and often invoking protective deities or elements of the afterlife.

Understanding this term is critical in the study of ancient Egyptian mortuary practices, as it highlights their beliefs surrounding death, preservation of the body, and the significance of funerary customs. The other terms listed, such as canopic, refer specifically to the containers used for storing the deceased's organs, ankh symbolizes life, and Osiris is the god of the afterlife, but none directly denotes the casket itself.