Coffins, Caskets and Other Burial Containers Quiz

Answer: Their shape

The standard British coffin is wider at the shoulders and then narrows towards the head and the feet. It usually has a one piece lid that is a separate piece and attached to the bottom of the coffin with screws. It will often have six sides or an anthropomorphic shape.

A casket has four sides, is rectangular in shape and has a hinged lid that is made in two pieces. This is done so that the casket may have the top part opened for a viewing. This is not a practice that is done in all English-speaking countries as many find it distasteful and disrespectful.

The two terms are often used interchangeably.

Answer: They use no metal

In Orthodox Judaism the coffin must be plain wood with a lid. It cannot have any kind of metal, or decoration. Wooden pegs are used in the place of nails. There are no name plates or handles. While variations do occur, the idea of simplicity is paramount.

Answer: Clay pottery

The Greeks were known to bury their dead sitting inside of clay pottery. The deceased were placed in a sitting position inside large baked clay urns before being placed in the ground.

Answer: It was made of glass

Lenin's glass sarcophagus sits in Red Square inside an elaborate mausoleum. His body is open to public viewing between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There is no photography, or filming allowed inside. No one may wear a hat; there is neither smoking nor profanity allowed. Breaking of these rules can result in imprisonment.

The glass sarcophagus and its embalmed body are considered treasures of the state and are guarded around the clock.

Answer: Cat

Cats held a special place in ancient Egyptian society. This artefact is the coffin of Ta-miaut (spellings vary) the Crown Prince's favorite cat. The name means she-cat. This square limestone sarcophagus is intricately carved with the animal's names and shows the cat's importance to the Crown Prince's daily life.

It is in the collection of the Egyptian Museum and dates from around the 18th Dynasty. Coffins, cremation services and pet cemeteries still exist all over the world today in recognition of the high regard that is still felt by many people for their pets.

Answer: Hang them from the side of cliffs

The Bo people of China hang their coffins off the sides of cliffs cantilevered onto wooden poles, or sit them on natural rock projections on the sides of cliffs. Some have also been found inside natural caves on the side of these cliffs. Most are made from one piece of wood and are approximately 400 years old. Spectacular pictures of these hanging coffins can be seen on your computer by searching for the term "hanging coffins".

Answer: Lead

Lead helps protect the environment from radiation leaking into the ground from the coffin. Many of the firefighters at the Chernobyl disaster were buried this way. Lead coffins are not new and at one time were used by some cultures to bury those people who were considered to be important members of society.

Answer: Coopers

Coopers, otherwise known as barrel makers made most of the coffins in Japan at this time. The coffins were round and were sized for the person intended to reside in it. Today in Japan over 99% of the population is cremated as it is almost impossible to buy a funeral plot.

Answer: True

While this may sound unpleasant it is true. These coffins are used for holding the body during a viewing before it is cremated. They have a removable bed and liner which is disposed of after use. There are also models that have a cardboard coffin that fits inside a regular coffin and is removed after the viewing and cremation is performed with the deceased still inside the cardboard box.

Answer: True

In many places in Africa very colorful, and elaborate coffins are common. They are often made in the shape of mundane, day to day items. Trains, cars, animals, vegetables, and sometimes coke bottles are used for design.