The term kasela stands for large chest. Kapsa and fortseri, are a few more of the names one can encounter in various regions of Greece, for this wooden chest that works as a safekeeping furniture. Chests of this type were used in Greece at all times from antiquity until the mid-20th century, when the vertical wardrobe prevailed. Many of the ones found in Lindos came from various commercial ports of Greece and Europe, and ended up on the island due to the intense commercial maritime activity of its inhabitants.

People stored important objects of everyday use and other valuables inside the chest, which was usually made of cypress or cedar. It was also used as a 'suitcase', in which travelers, wandering merchants, expatriates and seamen carried their personal effects.

In Orthodox churches, chests served as safekeeping furniture of ecclesiastical objects, while in some cases their lids were used in iconography, serving as the wooden body of icons.