# Where does the archetypical coffin shape come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096 "2008-08-24T13:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/21 "2008-08-28T09:53:16Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Do you actually _own_ that book? [/QUOTE] Yes. While the ‘tell which way is the head and which is the foot’ makes some sense given that the grave was oriented east-west with the corpse placed with the head to the west (supposedly so that its eyes would see Christ arising from the east on the Latter Day) remember that the vast majority of people were buried without a coffin at all. By the 17th c. priests were buried in the opposite direction so that they would rise from the grave facing their flocks on the Latter Day. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/22 "2008-08-28T13:06:34Z")
I’m planning to make my own coffin, in the traditional way. I’ll use it as a bookcase until I need it. I think it would be great fun to be able to say “I built my own coffin”. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/23 "2008-08-28T14:10:13Z")
The weird thing is that there’s TONS of woodworking plans around for coffins and caskets. Can I find a good simple beginner-project liquor cabinet? No! (Fine, I’ll design my own.) But cutouts of cats to put on your fence? We got a million. Things to bury you in? Step right up! And let’s not get into arbors. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/24 "2008-08-28T15:15:53Z")
The funeral director I worked for told me that coffins were largely replaced by caskets (which are the rectangular boxes) after WWII. According to him, it was part of a deliberate campaign on the part of the funeral industry to “sanitize” death and funerals. Coffins were distinctively shaped boxes that were used only for burying the dead. Even the name itself made people think of death. Caskets OTOH are a more neutral rectangular shape. At the time, the word casket was also less emotionally loaded than the word coffin, though that has changed with use. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/25 "2008-08-28T15:39:55Z")
I’m confused. Are ‘toe-pinchers’ not standard? They are here as far as I know. I haven’t seen many coffins thanks be but they’ve all be shaped like that. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/26 "2008-08-28T16:02:40Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] I’m confused. Are ‘toe-pinchers’ not standard? They are here as far as I know. I haven’t seen many coffins thanks be but they’ve all be shaped like that. [/QUOTE] All the ones I’ve seen have been rectangular like this: [http://www.murphyfuneralservices.com/files/capitol\_cherry.jpg](http://www.murphyfuneralservices.com/files/capitol_cherry.jpg) So it must be they go with caskets and not coffins. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/27 "2008-08-28T16:12:24Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] I’m confused. Are ‘toe-pinchers’ not standard? They are here as far as I know. I haven’t seen many coffins thanks be but they’ve all be shaped like that. [/QUOTE] In America it’s a rare funeral that doesn’t use a retangular casket instead of a traditional coffin. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/28 "2008-08-28T16:53:22Z")
This would be the closest to the last coffin I was near (my uncle’s). [http://www.finlay.ie/html/products/mayo.htm](http://www.finlay.ie/html/products/mayo.htm) Those plastic handles are useless. ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/29 "2008-09-04T14:46:13Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > This would be the closest to the last coffin I was near (my uncle’s). > > [http://www.finlay.ie/html/products/mayo.htm](http://www.finlay.ie/html/products/mayo.htm) > > Those plastic handles are useless. That sounds like there’s a story there… ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/30 "2008-09-04T14:48:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Even coffins go in and out of fashion. [fashionista]I wouldn’t be caught dead in _that one_.[/fashionista] ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/31 "2008-09-04T14:50:30Z")
> [@miamouse](#): > > That sounds like there’s a story there… Nope, but I will say, when selecting pallbearers make sure you check their heights. There was a variation of a foot and a half between the tallest and shortest in this instance. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/32 "2008-09-06T02:32:08Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > This would be the closest to the last coffin I was near (my uncle’s). > > [http://www.finlay.ie/html/products/mayo.htm](http://www.finlay.ie/html/products/mayo.htm) > > Those plastic handles are useless. Then how did it get lifted and carried? ---
**Author:** ![JimmyFlair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@JimmyFlair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyFlair)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/33 "2008-09-06T06:53:10Z")
This reminds me of one of those “Man, I’d really like to know the story behind THAT” moments… Twenty something years ago I was on a school trip on a boat. We left Vancouver and sailed around the Gulf Islands, learning about nature, etc. Shortly after leaving Vancouver, we got to the point where the muddy Fraser River water meets the relatively clear ocean water. A friend an I were leaning on the railing, taking in the scenery when we notice something in the water. It was what appeared to be a coffin lid in exactly the shape you describe. It was definitely not plywood cut to shape, but boards nailed together. The water was pretty choppy, so we couldn’t tell if it was just a lid or the top of a floating whole coffin. Where did it come from?😕 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/34 "2008-09-06T19:12:58Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > In America it’s a rare funeral that doesn’t use a retangular casket instead of a traditional coffin. That’s true. Also, most US caskets are metal, not wood. In Europe, they’re almost all wood. Our local maker of wooden caskets is C.J. Boots Casket Company. [http://www.cjbootscaskets.com/](http://www.cjbootscaskets.com/) Their motto is “Don’t leave this world without your Boots!” ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/35 "2008-09-08T14:09:40Z")
The tradtional coffin shape may endure simply because it IS iconic. The very shape of the box says, “This box holds a corpse.” After all, a plain wooden rectangular box could be holding anything. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/36 "2008-09-08T14:13:09Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > Then how did it get lifted and carried? From underneath. ---
**Author:** ![cocomom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cocomom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cocomom)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/37 "2012-09-22T15:53:08Z")
Hey & Hello, I’m afraid this is a bit late for the original poster but hopefully might be helpful for some future inquiries… The “traditional” coffins we all recognize are hexagon-shaped. Their top is tapered, leaving the most room for the shoulders and becomes more narrow as it goes towards the bottom. Caskets were built like this to save wood, carpenters used less wood with this shape than with rectangle caskets so it was quite common and economical…You don’t see them here too often but these are still used regularly in other parts of the world. I’ve always like them and asked my family to please bury me in one. I’m sure they’ll carry out my final wishes but they often tease me that this choice guarantees they’ll be gossiped about & accused of taking the “cheap” route. It’s all in fun, a little levity on such a serious subject. ; ) I hope this helps… God bless. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/38 "2012-09-22T15:57:37Z")
> [@cocomom](#): > > Hey & Hello, > I’m afraid this is a bit late for the original poster… Well, it seems appropriate to resurrect a zombie when it’s a coffin thread. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/39 "2012-09-22T16:04:53Z")
zombie or no people got fat and needed rectangular. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096/40 "2012-09-22T19:44:49Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > zombie or no > > people got fat and needed rectangular. People mostly get fat in their midsections. So maybe we need coffins with the “ears” farther down; like halfway. And wider. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-archetypical-coffin-shape-come-from/461096.md?page=3)