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{{Short description|Repository for the remains of the dead}} | {{Short description|Repository for the remains of the dead}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} | ||
{{Other uses}} | {{Other uses}} | ||
{{Redirect2|Sepulchre|Entombment||Sepulchre (disambiguation)|and|Entombment (disambiguation)}} | {{Redirect2|Sepulchre|Entombment||Sepulchre (disambiguation)|and|Entombment (disambiguation)}} | ||
[[File:Tomb of Itmaduddaulah.jpg|thumb|[[Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah]] | [[File:Tomb of Itmaduddaulah.jpg|thumb|The [[Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah]] in [[Agra]], India]] | ||
A '''tomb''' (from {{langx|grc|τύμβος}} ''tumbos'', meaning "mound" or "burial monument") is a repository for the remains of the dead. It may be above or below ground and can vary greatly in form, size, and cultural significance. Tombs are one of the oldest forms of funerary monuments, serving both as a means of [[Disposal of human corpses|final disposition]] and as expressions of religious belief, commemoration, and social status.<ref name="RenfrewBahn" /> | |||
Placing a body in a tomb can be called ''entombment'', distinct from simpler [[grave (burial)|burial]] practices. Tombs often involve architectural or artistic design and can become significant cultural or religious landmarks.<ref name="ArièsDeath" /> | |||
== Types of tombs == | |||
The term "tomb" encompasses a wide variety of structures and traditions, ranging from prehistoric burial mounds to elaborate monumental mausoleums. | |||
=== Prehistoric and ancient tombs === | |||
[[File:Urn Tomb, Petra 01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The [[Urn Tomb]] at [[Petra]], Jordan]] | |||
Many early societies constructed tombs using earth, stone, and timber, often imbued with religious or ritual significance. | |||
* '''[[Tumulus]]''' (plural: tumuli): A mound of earth and stones raised over one or more graves. Known also as ''barrows'', ''burial mounds'', or ''[[kurgan]]s'', these can be found in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.<ref name="RenfrewBahn" /> | |||
* '''[[Megalithic tomb]]''': Constructed of large stones ([[megalith]]s) and originally covered by earth; includes [[dolmen]]s and [[chamber tomb]]s.<ref name="RenfrewBahn" /> | |||
* '''[[Rock-cut tomb]]''': Carved directly into solid rock, varying from simple caves to elaborate façades. Found in ancient [[Egypt]], [[Lycia]], and the city of [[Petra]] in Jordan.<ref name="LloydEgypt" /><ref name="ArnoldEgyptianTombs" /> | |||
* '''[[Pyramid]]''': Monumental tombs or ceremonial structures, especially in [[Ancient Egypt]] and Mesoamerica. The [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] is the largest pyramid in the world by volume.<ref name="HawassPyramids" /><ref name="BudgeBookDead" /> | |||
* '''[[Ship burial]]''': A practice of placing the deceased in a ship along with grave goods, common among Vikings and Germanic peoples (e.g., the [[Oseberg Ship burial]]).<ref name="RenfrewBahn" /> | |||
* '''[[Grave field]]''': Large prehistoric cemeteries with multiple tombs, found in many early cultures. | |||
* [[ | |||
* [[Megalithic tomb]] ( | |||
* [[Rock-cut tomb]] | |||
* [[ | |||
* [[ | |||
=== Architectural tombs and monuments === | |||
[[File:Mausoleum at Halicarnassus at the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Reconstruction model of the [[Mausoleum at Halicarnassus]]]] | |||
Freestanding and often monumental tombs became important markers of dynastic, royal, or religious power. | |||
* '''[[Mausoleum]]''': External free-standing structures serving as both monuments and interment spaces. The [[Mausoleum at Halicarnassus]] was one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]].<ref name="CurlMausolea" /> | |||
* '''[[Sarcophagus]]''': A stone container for a body or coffin, often decorated with reliefs and inscriptions. Sarcophagi were prominent in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Byzantium.<ref name="BoardmanGreek" /><ref name="ToynbeeRoman" /> | |||
* '''[[Pillar tomb]]''': A monumental grave marked by a pillar or column, common in parts of Africa and Arabia.<ref name="RenfrewBahn" /> | |||
* '''[[Martyrium (architecture)|Martyrium]]''': A Christian building marking the site of a martyr’s tomb, often circular or polygonal, such as [[San Pietro in Montorio]].<ref name="Brown1981" /> | |||
* '''[[Stećak]]''': A monumental medieval tombstone richly decorated with reliefs, found in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Croatia]], [[Montenegro]], and [[Serbia]].<ref name="BešlagićStećci" /> | |||
=== Tombs within religious contexts === | |||
[[File:Kripta spomen Hram svetog Save 1.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|Crypt of the [[Church of Saint Sava]], Belgrade]] | |||
Many religious traditions incorporate tombs into sacred buildings or cemeteries. | |||
* '''[[Burial vault (tomb)|Burial vault]]''': An underground stone or brick-lined chamber, often family-owned, located in cemeteries or beneath churches.<ref name="ToynbeeRoman" /> | |||
* '''[[Crypt]]''': An underground chamber beneath a church, often used for bishops, saints, or patrons.<ref name="ElsnerArtDeath" /> | |||
* '''[[Church monument]]''': An effigy-bearing monument within a church, commemorating nobles or clergy.<ref name="ToynbeeRoman" /> | |||
* '''[[Charnel house]]''': A building for storing skeletal remains, common in medieval Europe.<ref name="ArièsDeath" /> | |||
* '''[[Shrine]]''': A structure above the first burial place of a saint, distinct from a reliquary.<ref name="Brown1981" /> | |||
* '''[[Sepulchre]]''': A cavernous rock-cut tomb, particularly in Jewish and Christian traditions (e.g., the [[Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem).<ref name="Brown1981" /> | |||
* '''[[Ohel (grave)|Ohel]]''': A structure around the grave of a [[Hasidic]] leader. | |||
* '''Islamic tombs''': Mausoleums or shrines called [[Mazar (mausoleum)|Mazar]], [[Türbe]], [[Qubba]], [[Dargah]], or [[Gongbei (Islamic architecture)|Gongbei]], often places of pilgrimage.<ref name="FloodIslamicShrines" /><ref name="GrabarIslamicArchitecture" /> | |||
* '''[[Samadhi (shrine)|Samadhi]]''': In India, a tomb-shrine for saints, combining funerary and devotional elements.<ref name="RenfrewBahn" /> | |||
== | == Symbolism and cultural significance == | ||
Tombs embody the beliefs, values, and aesthetics of the societies that created them. They may symbolize: | |||
* | * continuity of life after death,<ref name="SilvermanEgyptianAfterlife" /> | ||
* | * political power and dynastic legitimacy,<ref name="CurlMausolea" /> | ||
* | * artistic expression through sculpture, painting, and architecture,<ref name="BoardmanGreek" /> | ||
* | * pilgrimage and veneration, especially in religious contexts.<ref name="Brown1981" /><ref name="ElsnerArtDeath" /> | ||
== | == Notable examples == | ||
* [[ | Some of the most famous tombs worldwide include: | ||
* [[ | * The '''[[Great Pyramid of Giza]]''', tomb of the pharaoh [[Khufu]].<ref name="HawassPyramids" /> | ||
* [[ | * The '''[[Taj Mahal]]''' in Agra, India, mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. | ||
* [[ | * The '''[[Mausoleum at Halicarnassus]]''', one of the Seven Wonders.<ref name="CurlMausolea" /> | ||
* [[ | * The '''[[Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor]]''', guarded by the [[Terracotta Army]]. | ||
* The '''[[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]]''' in Jerusalem, containing the empty tomb of [[Jesus]].<ref name="Brown1981" /> | |||
* The '''[[Daisen Kofun]]''' in Japan, the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, the largest tomb in the world by area.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/280862/lifestyle/travel/where-emperors-sleep-japan-s-keyhole-shaped-burial-mounds|title=Where emperors sleep: Japan's keyhole-shaped burial mounds|last=Merueñas|first=Mark|date=2012-11-04|newspaper=GMA News Online|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref> | |||
* Numerous national '''[[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier|Tombs of the Unknown Soldier]]''', such as at the [[Arc de Triomphe]] in Paris or [[Arlington National Cemetery]]. | |||
== | == Gallery of tomb types == | ||
<gallery widths="180px" heights="150px" perrow="4"> | |||
File:Cheops pyramid 01.jpg|The [[Pyramid of Khufu]], a pyramid tomb. | |||
File:Sarcophagi-and-thumbs.jpg|Sarcophagi at [[Hierapolis]]. | |||
File:BiH, Radimlja necropolis 5.jpg|[[Necropolis]] with stećci at Radimlja. | |||
File:Imam Hossein Holly Shrine01 (cropped).jpg|Shrine and tomb of [[Husayn ibn Ali|Imam Husayn]] in [[Karbala]]. | |||
File:אהל הרבי מליובאוויטש מבפנים.JPG|The [[Ohel (Chabad-Lubavitch)|Ohel]], a Jewish pilgrimage site. | |||
File:Askainen church 2016 21.jpg|Tomb of the [[Mannerheim family|Mannerheim family]] in [[Askainen]], Finland. | |||
</gallery> | |||
==See also== | == See also == | ||
* [[List of mausolea]] | * [[List of mausolea]] | ||
* [[List of necropoleis]] | * [[List of necropoleis]] | ||
* [[List of tombs and mausoleums]] | * [[List of tombs and mausoleums]] | ||
* [[Cemetery]] | |||
* [[Columbarium]] | |||
* [[Grave (burial)|Grave]] | |||
* [[Morgue]] | |||
* [[Cadaver monument]] | |||
==References== | == References == | ||
<references> | |||
<ref name="RenfrewBahn">Renfrew, Colin; Bahn, Paul (2012). ''Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice''. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500292105.</ref> | |||
<ref name="Brown1981">Brown, Peter (1981). ''The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity''. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226076225.</ref> | |||
<ref name="LloydEgypt">Lloyd, Alan B. (2010). ''A Companion to Ancient Egypt''. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1405155984.</ref> | |||
<ref name="ArnoldEgyptianTombs">Arnold, Dieter (1991). ''Building in Egypt: Pharaonic Stone Masonry''. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195063509.</ref> | |||
<ref name="BoardmanGreek">Boardman, John (1995). ''Greek Sculpture: The Classical Period''. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500201985.</ref> | |||
<ref name="ToynbeeRoman">Toynbee, Jocelyn M.C. (1971). ''Death and Burial in the Roman World''. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0801839672.</ref> | |||
<ref name="CurlMausolea">Curl, James Stevens (2002). ''The Egyptian Revival: Ancient Egypt as the Inspiration for Design Motifs in the West''. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415243267.</ref> | |||
<ref name="BešlagićStećci">Bešlagić, Šefik (1982). ''Stećci: Kultura i umjetnost''. Veselin Masleša.</ref> | |||
<ref name="FloodIslamicShrines">Flood, Finbarr B. (2001). ''The Great Mosque of Damascus: Studies on the Makings of an Umayyad Visual Culture''. Brill. ISBN 978-9004116380.</ref> | |||
<ref name="GrabarIslamicArchitecture">Grabar, Oleg (1996). ''The Shape of the Holy: Early Islamic Jerusalem''. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691038164.</ref> | |||
<ref name="HawassPyramids">Hawass, Zahi (2003). ''The Treasures of the Pyramids''. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-9774248258.</ref> | |||
<ref name="SilvermanEgyptianAfterlife">Silverman, David P. (1991). ''Religion in Ancient Egypt: Gods, Myths, and Personal Practice''. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0801483349.</ref> | |||
<ref name="BudgeBookDead">Budge, E.A. Wallis (1967). ''The Egyptian Book of the Dead''. Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0486218663.</ref> | |||
<ref name="ElsnerArtDeath">Elsner, Jas (1998). ''Imperial Rome and Christian Triumph: The Art of the Roman Empire A.D. 100–450''. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0192842015.</ref> | |||
<ref name="ArièsDeath">Ariès, Philippe (1981). ''The Hour of Our Death''. Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0394751566.</ref> | |||
</references> | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Latest revision as of 13:02, 18 November 2025
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "other uses". Script error: No such module "Redirect hatnote".
A tomb (from Template:Langx tumbos, meaning "mound" or "burial monument") is a repository for the remains of the dead. It may be above or below ground and can vary greatly in form, size, and cultural significance. Tombs are one of the oldest forms of funerary monuments, serving both as a means of final disposition and as expressions of religious belief, commemoration, and social status.[1]
Placing a body in a tomb can be called entombment, distinct from simpler burial practices. Tombs often involve architectural or artistic design and can become significant cultural or religious landmarks.[2]
Types of tombs
The term "tomb" encompasses a wide variety of structures and traditions, ranging from prehistoric burial mounds to elaborate monumental mausoleums.
Prehistoric and ancient tombs
Many early societies constructed tombs using earth, stone, and timber, often imbued with religious or ritual significance.
- Tumulus (plural: tumuli): A mound of earth and stones raised over one or more graves. Known also as barrows, burial mounds, or kurgans, these can be found in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.[1]
- Megalithic tomb: Constructed of large stones (megaliths) and originally covered by earth; includes dolmens and chamber tombs.[1]
- Rock-cut tomb: Carved directly into solid rock, varying from simple caves to elaborate façades. Found in ancient Egypt, Lycia, and the city of Petra in Jordan.[3][4]
- Pyramid: Monumental tombs or ceremonial structures, especially in Ancient Egypt and Mesoamerica. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest pyramid in the world by volume.[5][6]
- Ship burial: A practice of placing the deceased in a ship along with grave goods, common among Vikings and Germanic peoples (e.g., the Oseberg Ship burial).[1]
- Grave field: Large prehistoric cemeteries with multiple tombs, found in many early cultures.
Architectural tombs and monuments
Freestanding and often monumental tombs became important markers of dynastic, royal, or religious power.
- Mausoleum: External free-standing structures serving as both monuments and interment spaces. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.[7]
- Sarcophagus: A stone container for a body or coffin, often decorated with reliefs and inscriptions. Sarcophagi were prominent in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Byzantium.[8][9]
- Pillar tomb: A monumental grave marked by a pillar or column, common in parts of Africa and Arabia.[1]
- Martyrium: A Christian building marking the site of a martyr’s tomb, often circular or polygonal, such as San Pietro in Montorio.[10]
- Stećak: A monumental medieval tombstone richly decorated with reliefs, found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia.[11]
Tombs within religious contexts
Many religious traditions incorporate tombs into sacred buildings or cemeteries.
- Burial vault: An underground stone or brick-lined chamber, often family-owned, located in cemeteries or beneath churches.[9]
- Crypt: An underground chamber beneath a church, often used for bishops, saints, or patrons.[12]
- Church monument: An effigy-bearing monument within a church, commemorating nobles or clergy.[9]
- Charnel house: A building for storing skeletal remains, common in medieval Europe.[2]
- Shrine: A structure above the first burial place of a saint, distinct from a reliquary.[10]
- Sepulchre: A cavernous rock-cut tomb, particularly in Jewish and Christian traditions (e.g., the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem).[10]
- Ohel: A structure around the grave of a Hasidic leader.
- Islamic tombs: Mausoleums or shrines called Mazar, Türbe, Qubba, Dargah, or Gongbei, often places of pilgrimage.[13][14]
- Samadhi: In India, a tomb-shrine for saints, combining funerary and devotional elements.[1]
Symbolism and cultural significance
Tombs embody the beliefs, values, and aesthetics of the societies that created them. They may symbolize:
- continuity of life after death,[15]
- political power and dynastic legitimacy,[7]
- artistic expression through sculpture, painting, and architecture,[8]
- pilgrimage and veneration, especially in religious contexts.[10][12]
Notable examples
Some of the most famous tombs worldwide include:
- The Great Pyramid of Giza, tomb of the pharaoh Khufu.[5]
- The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal.
- The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders.[7]
- The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, guarded by the Terracotta Army.
- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, containing the empty tomb of Jesus.[10]
- The Daisen Kofun in Japan, the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, the largest tomb in the world by area.[16]
- Numerous national Tombs of the Unknown Soldier, such as at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or Arlington National Cemetery.
Gallery of tomb types
-
The Pyramid of Khufu, a pyramid tomb.
-
Sarcophagi at Hierapolis.
-
Necropolis with stećci at Radimlja.
-
Shrine and tomb of Imam Husayn in Karbala.
-
The Ohel, a Jewish pilgrimage site.
-
Tomb of the Mannerheim family in Askainen, Finland.
.jpg){kind=link}
See also
- List of mausolea
- List of necropoleis
- List of tombs and mausoleums
- Cemetery
- Columbarium
- Grave
- Morgue
- Cadaver monument
References
- ↑ a b c d e f Renfrew, Colin; Bahn, Paul (2012). Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500292105.
- ↑ a b Ariès, Philippe (1981). The Hour of Our Death. Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0394751566.
- ↑ Lloyd, Alan B. (2010). A Companion to Ancient Egypt. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1405155984.
- ↑ Arnold, Dieter (1991). Building in Egypt: Pharaonic Stone Masonry. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195063509.
- ↑ a b Hawass, Zahi (2003). The Treasures of the Pyramids. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-9774248258.
- ↑ Budge, E.A. Wallis (1967). The Egyptian Book of the Dead. Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0486218663.
- ↑ a b c Curl, James Stevens (2002). The Egyptian Revival: Ancient Egypt as the Inspiration for Design Motifs in the West. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415243267.
- ↑ a b Boardman, John (1995). Greek Sculpture: The Classical Period. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500201985.
- ↑ a b c Toynbee, Jocelyn M.C. (1971). Death and Burial in the Roman World. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0801839672.
- ↑ a b c d e Brown, Peter (1981). The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226076225.
- ↑ Bešlagić, Šefik (1982). Stećci: Kultura i umjetnost. Veselin Masleša.
- ↑ a b Elsner, Jas (1998). Imperial Rome and Christian Triumph: The Art of the Roman Empire A.D. 100–450. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0192842015.
- ↑ Flood, Finbarr B. (2001). The Great Mosque of Damascus: Studies on the Makings of an Umayyad Visual Culture. Brill. ISBN 978-9004116380.
- ↑ Grabar, Oleg (1996). The Shape of the Holy: Early Islamic Jerusalem. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691038164.
- ↑ Silverman, David P. (1991). Religion in Ancient Egypt: Gods, Myths, and Personal Practice. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0801483349.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
External links
Template:Death and mortality in art Template:Authority control