By Bashar Mustafa
ABSTRACT
This paper describes and analyzes a hypogeal tomb recently unearthed during rescue excavation at the
necropolis of Ard al-Bayada belonging to the ancient city of Amrīt in present-day Syria. Many of the
numerous hypogeal tombs that have been documented at this site seem to be related to Phoenician culture.
Given the fact of its being hypogeal, as well as its architectural features, this finding has close ties to Roman
Imperial culture and presents a significant contribution to the archaeology of the area. There is evidence that
several generations used this complex tomb over a long period of time; architectural elements of the
mausoleum have been examined to confirm the usage of this burial site during an extended period and
confirm its use by ancient tribes of various socio-ethnic variations who held disparate religious beliefs and
practiced diverse rites. Based on architectural features of the mausoleum, we can date the origin of the site to
the late second to 3rd centuries CE. As such, this discovery contributes to the understanding of the function
and character of Roman ideology in this part of southern Syria. This paper will shed light onto the
architectural and cultural context of the territory of Arados/Amrīt during the Imperial Roman Empire of the 2nd and early 3rd century CE.
