Coffins

Traditionally, the body is positioned with the head to the left in a casket to allow mourners to view the deceased's face more easily. This orientation is often chosen to align with the practice of placing the deceased in a way that reflects their natural state and to facilitate a respectful farewell. Additionally, it is a customary practice in many cultures and funeral services to create a sense of comfort and familiarity for those paying their respects.

Coffins typically do not have serial numbers like manufactured products do. However, some manufacturers may use lot numbers or other identification marks for inventory and quality control purposes. In certain contexts, specific burial plots or funeral services may have records that associate a coffin with a deceased individual, but this is not the same as a serial number. Overall, the use of serial numbers for coffins is not standard practice.

In Greece, traditional coffins are commonly referred to as "σάρκα" (sárka) or "κονάκι" (konáki). The term "κονάκι" is often used for wooden coffins, while "σάρκα" can refer to the body casing itself. Additionally, some regions may have specific local terms or variations.

Low cost carbon steel caskets are usually made of 20-gauge steel. This means that 20 sheets of 20 ga steel have a thickness of one inch. Twenty-gauge steel sheets have a thickness of 0,8 mm; this is the same thickness as used in many automobile body panels. Standard steel caskets use

18 ga steel sheets which have a thickness of 1 mm. Upper end steel caskets use 16 ga steel sheets with a thickness of 1,3 mm. 16 sheets of 16 ga steel have a thickness of one inch.

A common platform for coffins is called a catafalque. It is a raised structure used during funerals or memorial services to display the casket or coffin.

Stone coffins in Egypt are generally referred to as sarcophagi. Sarcophagi were used to house the bodies of Pharaohs and other prominent individuals in ancient Egypt. They were often beautifully decorated and intricately carved to depict religious scenes and symbols.

Caskets are generally made of two types of material, wood and metal.

In the wider sense of the words, yes; in the narrower sense, no.

Both are funeral receptacles for dead persons. A sarcophagus (an ancient Greek word meaning "flesh eating limestone") is a funeral receptacle which typically is made of stone. In most cases the sarcophagus is placed above the ground so that the carvings and inscriptions, which oftentimes ornament the outside, can be seen. A casket or coffin is usually placed in a grave below the ground. In cemeteries with boggy or flooded ground the casket might be placed in a tomb above the ground, though. In a way, these tombs can be regarded as big sarcophagi.

Sometimes a casket is called - somewhat incorrectly - a sarcophagus. In the US for example. the National Casket Company of Boston manufactured in the 20th century a cast bronze casket called "Sarcophagus". A somewhat modified new version of this luxury design is currently produced by the York-Matthews company under the type designation "Pharaoh Sarcophagus". These are by far the most expensive caskets available and with some 1200 lbs they also approach the enormous weight of stone sarcophagi.

Yes, the dead are buried with their coffin. The body stays in the coffin regardless of whether the person is buried or cremated.

Vampires do not exist they're only in movies to make it scarier. The first reference to a vampire sleeping in a coffin was in the 1931 movie Dracula. The first reference to vampires sleeping in anything other than a bad was in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.

(to read more about this see the related link below)

A few of the more famous vampires were shown sleeping in their coffins which has given rise to the stereotype. This is simply because that was where they found themselves when they woke up and it is comfortable and convenient and they certainly paid enough for it, so why not continue sleeping there? Some have a great sense of tradition and family pride and that it as proper for them to continue with the heirloom. In fact, a vampire has no real need to sleep in his (or her) coffin.

Alternate Viewpoint:

I believe vampires do exist. They're not like the ones that you see in the movies though. These people actually choose to drink blood as a preference and live the lifestyle based on what they've seen in movies.

(see the related link)

Just one. Napoleon was buried on St Helena, but his body was later reburied in Paris on the banks of the Seine. He wish to be cremated was not respected. He is now interred in a sarcaphagus under the dome in Les Invalides in Paris, France.

They have a lift that goes around the body and lifts it off the table into the casket

Most likely to protect the graves from grave robber.

The first coffin is tin, the second mahogany, the third and fourth lead, the fifth ebony, and the sixth porphyry. Porphyry simply means stone.

After his body was embalmed the number off coffins fulfilled a number of purposes: Led-lined coffins can prevent complete decomposition of the body, other layers are for security of the body and the final elaborate coffin acts as symbolism that this person was of great importance.

It is said that in the olden days if the dead was innocent the coffin door would open but if they were guilty and were going to go to hell they would try and open the wrong side and then they would lose their souls for all eternity. And we have continued this tradition not even realizing it.

Catholics bury their dead for the same reason other people bury their dead. After a few days they begin to decay and raise quite a stink, not to mention the possibility of being a source of disease.

The ancient Egyptians were the first to use coffins in burying their dead. Their coffins were called sarcophagi and were made of stone.

Only those caskets are air (and water) tight which are "sealer" caskets, meaning that they are provided with a rubber like sealing gasket between the lid and the base of the caskets. Usually only metal caskets can be sealer caskets.

King Tutankhaten had 4 coffins. They were all made of wood, which was then heavily decorated on the outside with both paint and gold leaf. One of Tut's coffins was made partly of gold. That was the coffin that they put Tut in when he died. The head of that coffin was made of pure gold decorated with stones and colored glass.

The Egyptians mummified the dead because they believed the persons soul would leave the body at death and return. The soul needed to be able to recognize the body to live forever and therefore they used the mummification process.