What is a reliquary?

A reliquary is specifically designed to hold and preserve holy relics, which are physical remains or personal effects of saints or other venerated individuals. This can include items such as fragments of their bones, clothing, or objects associated with them. Reliquaries can take various forms, often elaborately decorated, such as small shrines or boxes, and are commonly found in places of worship, serving both a functional and a ceremonial purpose.

The other options represent different concepts within funerary practices but do not share the same specific purpose as a reliquary. A burial plot is a designated area within a cemetery for interring the deceased. A mausoleum is a larger structure used to house one or more bodies, generally above ground. An urn is a container used specifically for holding cremated remains, distinct from the idea of preserving relics associated with saints or holy figures.