Coffins in Romans time

The word ‘coffins’ appears to owe its origin to the ancient custom of burying the dead in caves, a practice which prevailed not only among many civilized nations of antiquity but also with the barbarian tribes. Wooden coffins were common, but there were also lead coffins and stone coffins (sarcophagi).

Some sarcophagi were extremely ornate, and some were only carved on three sides, as they were intended to b placed against a wall in a tomb.

The resting place of emperors and their relatives were often large, tomb-like sarcophagi, or coffins, decorated with reliefs glorifying the dead person.

Well-to-do families went in for mausoleums in which the various members were laid to rest often in sarcophagi, expensive stone coffins often decorated with inscription and sculpture.

The classicizing sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, city prefect of Rome, baptized just before his death in 359 includes a colonnaded front divided into ten niches of richly carved biblical stories.

In the 4th and 5th centuries AD, they became common for ordinary people as well because Christianity chose to bury the dead instead of cremating the bodies. Marble or red porphyry were favored, as both types of stone sculpted well.
Coffins in Romans time 

Coffin in ancient Egypt

In the Old Kingdom (2575-2134 BC), mortuary regalia that appeared designed to protect the remains of the deceased. The coffins were painted on their sides to make them resemble the walls of the royal places and doors, windows and even patterns of hanging reed mats were fashioned as designs for these receptacles.

Cartonnage masks were developed in the First Intermediate Period (2134-2040 BC) but were extended in later dynasties to cover the entire mummified remains. Cartonnage masks were placed over the head and face of the mummy both protect it and act as a substitute of the mummy was destroyed.

Egyptian wooden coffin dated 2500 BC

During the Middle Kingdom the anthropoid coffin was packed inside the rectangular coffin. Later in New Kingdom times (between 16th century BC and 11th century BC), very wealthy people had three coffins which fitted inside each other.

Each of these was mummy-shaped, with a portrait of the person painted on it.

The coffin of ordinary people were painted inside and out with prayers and pictures of the gods of death and rebirth. There were inscriptions placed inside the coffins of Egyptians containing spells and incantations intended to help the deceased on their journeys to the hereafter.

On the coffins of pharaoh the decorations were not painted but finely carved and were covered entirely with gold.
Coffin in ancient Egypt