Hypogeum of Yarhai

Underground tomb from Palmyra, Syria

Detail from the hypogeum

The Hypogeum of Yarhai is a hypogeum (underground tomb) from the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra which flourished in the second and third centuries AD. It is considered one of the finest examples of Palmyrene funerary art. It's a mass grave which was built to contain the remains of the Yarhai family who commissioned it to be built in 108 AD.[1]

The hypogeum was originally located in Palmyra's Valley of the Tombs before being excavated and restored.[2][3] It was then moved to Damascus in 1935 and was later placed in its national museum.[2]

Characteristic of most Palmyrene monuments, the ornate hypogeum is made of pale yellow limestone,[1] and is sealed by two monolithic doors.[1] At its center is a depiction of the deceased presiding over a funerary banquet to sustain them in their afterlife,[1] while surrounding them, the walls display a set of funerary reliefs, characteristic of the city of Palmyra, depicting the members of the Yarhai family, with its women partly veiled to represent death,[1][2] to seal the compartment shelves which contained their bodies.[1]

## See also

[edit]

* Palmyrene funerary reliefs
* Lion of Al-lāt

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Darke, Diana (2010). Syria. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 113. ISBN 9781841623146.
2. ^ a b c Beattie, Andrew; Pepper, Timothy (2001). The Rough Guide to Syria. ISBN 9781858287188.
3. ^ Ball, Warwick (2016). Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire. ISBN 9781317296355.

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Palmyra

Historic buildings|

| Temples|

* Temple of Bel
* Temple of Baalshamin
* Temple of Al-Lat

|

Other|

* Great Colonnade at Palmyra
* Roman Theatre at Palmyra
* Valley of the Tombs
* Tower of Elahbel
* Camp of Diocletian
* Canalizations of Zenobia
* Palmyra Castle
* Monumental Arch of Palmyra
* Harbaqa Dam
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People|

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* Odaenathus
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* Hairan I
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|

Tribes|

* Bene Komare
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Other|

* Maeonius
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Society|

| Art|

* Palmyrene funerary reliefs
* Lion of Al-lāt
* Hypogeum of Yarhai
* Portraits of Odaenathus

|

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Category:Palmyra
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