Larnax

Late Minoan III larnax from Kavrochori, Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

Thegolden larnaxand the golden crown ofPhilip II of Macedon,VerginaMuseum.

Alarnax(plural:larnakes;Ancient Greek:λάρναξ,lárnaks,plural: λάρνακες,lárnakes) is a type of small closed coffin, box or "ash-chest" often used in theMinoan civilizationand inAncient Greeceas a container for human remains—either a corpse (bent back on itself) orcremated ashes.

The first larnakes appeared in the Minoan period of theAegean civilization,when they took the form of ceramic coffers designed to imitate wooden chests, perhaps on the pattern of Egyptian linen chests. They were richly decorated with abstract patterns,octopusesand scenes of hunting and cult rituals.

During the laterHellenistic period,larnakes, in the form of small terracotta sarcophagi, became popular, some of which were painted in similar styles to contemporaryGreek vases.

In a few special cases, larnakes appear to have been made out of precious materials, as in the4th century BC examplefound atVerginainMacedonia,of gold, with a sun motif (hence known as the "Vergina Sun"motif) on the lid.Manolis Andronikos,the leader of the archaeological excavation, posited that the larnax most likely contained the remains of KingPhilip II of Macedon,father ofAlexander the Great.