Sarcophagus

A sarcophagus is an artifact from the live action continuity family.

Being a hovering obelisk is all the rage.

As beings capable of traveling between dimensions, the Dynasty of Primes utilized sarcophagi as a means of facilitating these dimensional jumps. Triangular in shape and bearing each Prime's sigil, these hovering artifacts were perhaps a precursor to the more mundane transition forms utilized by Cybertronians to travel to other planets. Destruction of a Prime's sarcophagus prevents the recreation of their physical form, as shown when the Prime who would become known as The Fallen shattered the majority of them.

Fiction

IDW Transformers comic prequels

The Dynasty of Primes emerged from their sarcophagi to deal with the issue of Jetfire's culling of a living world through use of a star harvester. Jetfire was confused by this, as he had detected no sign of life when he had located the world. The Prime he served dismissed the concerns of his brothers, as without the energy the star harvesters provided they were consigning Cybertron to a slow death, and the Primes to a limbo state within their sarcophagi. Tales of the Fallen issue 3

Scheming beyond the prying optics of his brothers, this Prime had his Seekers locate more living worlds to harvest. After the location of Earth, the Prime decided it was time to act, destroying the sarcophagi of the other Primes. This aggression drew the Dynasty to Earth to confront their brother, and with the last of their energy they trapped him within his sarcophagus. Henceforth the condemnation of his brothers named him The Fallen. Defiance issue 4

Many centuries later, a Science Division archaeological dig turned up many broken sarcophagi, each bearing the [[Cyberglyphic]s] symbol for Prime. Megatron took a personal interest in the excavation when a single intact sarcophagus was unearthed. He ordered it transported to his quarters. Defiance issue 1

Megatron turned to the sarcophagus after a critical battle, grievously wounded. The Fallen communicated with the military leader through it, using most of his remaining energy to heal Megatron. Defiance issue 2 Ultimately swayed to The Fallen's cause, Megatron seized control of Cybertron, and ordered the construction of Nemesis a ship to seek out the last star harvester his master's forces had constructed. The Fallen's sarcophagus was placed onboard the ship for its interstellar journey. Defiance issue 4

After Soundwave recovered Sentinel Prime's space bridge pillars, The Fallen used the one of the pillars to breach space and time and liberate himself of his sarcophagus. Convergence chapter 4

IDW Revenge of the Fallen adaptation

Upon his revival, Megatron returned to the Nemesis and consulted with The Fallen, still trapped within his sarcophagus. He reported with regret that he had failed to recover the All Spark, as it had been destroyed. The Fallen rebuked Megatron, stating that the All Spark could never be truly destroyed, and that Sam Witwicky could yet lead them to the star harvester. Revenge of the Fallen issue 2 Upon locating the harvester, The Fallen was finally freed from his sarcophagus and opened a space bridge to Earth to direct its excavation. Revenge of the Fallen issue 3

Titan Magazines

Megatron found The Fallen's sarcophagus on Saturn and freed him there. The Fallen's profile

Notes

Don't you love screwing with writers?

• The sarcophagi were inspired by an early draft of the Revenge of the Fallen script, in which Megatron communicates with The Fallen on the Nemesis via a glorified video phone. They were included in the comic adaptation and novelization, as well as Defiance which was based on this early material. They were not depicted in the film itself, in favour of having The Fallen resting on the ship and talking to his disciple directly. Chris Mowry said he almost spilt his coffee when he saw the film and how his convoluted plot had been rendered defunct.[1]
• Dark of the Moon comics writer John Barber said the only way to reconcile the issue for him was that the sarcophagus morphed into The Fallen by the events of the film. [2]