Necropolis is a large ancient cemetery with tombstones. Translated from the ancient Greek word literally means "city of the dead." Unlike graves in cities that were common in various places and periods of history, the necropolis is a separate burial ground at a considerable distance from the city. Although the word is most often used for ancient burials, it is also sometimes applied to some modern cemeteries, such as the Glasgow Necropolis.
Famous Necropolises
There are many such structures in the world. The famous Egyptian necropolis is a burial place in Giza, which is one of the oldest and probably the most famous in the world since the Great Pyramid of Giza was included in the seven wonders of the ancient world. In addition to the pyramids that were reserved for the burial of the pharaohs, the Egyptian necropolis included the mastaba, a typical royal tomb of the early dynastic period.
Naksha Rustam is an ancient necropolis located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis, in the province of Fars, Iran. The oldest relief in Naksha Rustam was created in 1000 BC. e. Although it is badly damaged, it depicts a man with an unusual headdress, the relief is considered Elamite in origin. The image is part of a larger image, most of which has been deleted.
The Etruscans took the concept of "city of the dead" literally. For them, the necropolis is a typical tomb in Banditaccia, which consists of a mound covering one or more rocky underground graves. These tombs had several rooms and were carefully decorated.
Veneration of the dead
In ancient Rome, for example, families initially buried deceased relatives in their homes because of the Roman practice of worshiping ancestors. The goals of creating necropolises were different for different peoples, but they were united by the fact that in this way people paid their last tribute to deceased loved ones.