Lion tombs of Dedan
Al ula rock cut tombs of Dedan | |
Interactive map of the lion tombs of Dedan | |
| Location | Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 26°38′50″N 37°54′58″E / 26.647313936521993°N 37.916054845571054°E |
| History | |
| Founded | between 600BCE-500BCE[1] |
| Cultures | Ancient lihyan |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dadanitic |
Lion tombs (Arabic: مقابر الأسود الدادنية) are ancient Dadanitic tombs cut from rock, with over than 20 tombs, located in the temple of Mahlab al-Naqa area of al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.
History
The lion tombs are rock-cut burial niches decorated with reliefs of lions. The tombs are dated back between the 600 BCE-500 BCE. According to the religious beliefs of the day, the lions protected those buried within the tombs. These tombs are evidence of 2600 years of settlement in al-Ula, originally called Dedan.[3]
References
Bibliography
- Said Alsaid, Dedan Treasures of a Spectacular Culture, King Saud University.