---
title: Subterranean Tomb from Palmyra
author: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8714/subterranean-tomb-from-palmyra/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Subterranean Tomb from Palmyra
_Authored by [Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/OsamaSMAmin/)_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8714.jpg)
## Image Caption
The hypogea or underground tombs, along with the tower tombs and house tombs, constitute an important part of the monumental burials of the wealthy Palmyrene class in the first and second centuries CE. The underground galleries were, most of the time, shaped like a "T" or cruciform, with the loculi into which the bodies of the dead were placed covering the walls. After placing the corpse, the places were sealed with sculptural portraits of the deceased. A dedicatory inscription, stating the names of the personages for whom the hypogeum was built was often placed above the entrance of the hypogeum. The hypogeum in the picture was modeled after an original, built in 108 CE in the Valley of the Tombs, belonging to the Yarhai Family. The interior of the hypogeum was faced with hard limestone articulated as pilasters, niches, arches, and similar [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) architectural elements. The original sculptures of the Yarhai hypogeum were transported to Damascus Museum where it was partly reconstructed. Limestone. [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) Period, first to third century CE. From the Valley of the Tombs at Palmyra, in modern-day [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/). (Museum of [Archaeology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Archaeology/), Istanbul, [Turkey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/)). Source of the description was taken from the book "Istanbul Archaeological Museums" by Alpay Pasinli.
#### Editorial Review
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## About the Author
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.
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## External Links
- [Palmyra | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/palm/hd_palm.htm)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Amin, O. S. M. (2018, May 10). Subterranean Tomb from Palmyra. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Subterranean Tomb from Palmyra." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 10, 2018. .
### MLA
Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Subterranean Tomb from Palmyra." *World History Encyclopedia*, 10 May 2018, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/OsamaSMAmin/ "User Page: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin"), published on 10 May 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.