Hellenistic cyrenaica

Abstract EN

This paper discusses in two parts the history and burial types of the pentapolis region in Cyrenaeca in eastern Libya .

In the first part, a brief description of geographical locations and city planning systems used in these cities are presented .

The second part deals mainly with various types of burials used in these cities during the Hellenistic period such as Cyst graves, Sarcophagi, Built tombs and Rock-cut chamber tombs .

Cyrenaica province is located on the North African coast.

It includes Jabal Akhdar which extends about 270 Kilometers along the sea coast .

There are six major cities, four were on the coast, Berenike (modern Benghazi), Arsinoe, originally Taucheira, (modern Tocra), Ptolemais (modern Tolmetha), Apollonia, (modern Susa) .

The site of Barce (modern Al-Marj) was on the first plateau and Cyrene (modern Shahat) on the second .

Cyrene is the oldest city which was founded by Greek immigrants from the island of Thera in 631 B.C.

The remaining cities were founded at later dates .

The economies of the six cities were based on agricultural products .

This study concentrates on four styles of funerary architecture as exemplified by the remaining structures.

These burials were located outside the residential areas of the cities.

This is very obvious on the north side of Cyrene where one can still see rock-cut façades with sculpted columns friezes and pediments which resemble Greek houses, built tombs, and Sarcophagi .

The most striking feature of the tombs of Cyrenaica is their lack of uniformity.

But perhaps two common features can be noted in the burial practices throughout the cities, the first is that tombs are often located near quarries.

The second is that all tombs are located outside cities .