Necropolis is a large ancient cemetery with tombstones. Translated from ancient Greek, the word literally means "city of the dead." Unlike graves in cities, which were common in various places and periods of history, the necropolis is a separate burial ground at a considerable distance from the city. While the word is most commonly 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. A famous Egyptian necropolis is the Giza burial site, 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, which were reserved for the burial of the pharaohs, the Egyptian necropolis included a mastaba, a typical royal tomb of the early dynastic period.
Nakshe Rustam is an ancient necropolis located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis, in Fars Province, Iran. The oldest relief in Nakshe-Rustam was created in 1000 BC. e. Although he is badly damaged,it depicts a man with an unusual headdress, the relief is considered to be Elamite in origin. The image is part of a larger image, most of which has been removed.
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 underground rock graves. These tombs had several rooms and were elaborately decorated.
Honoring the Dead
In ancient Rome, for example, families originally buried deceased relatives in their homes due to the Roman practice of ancestor worship. 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.
