Collective Burial in Hellenistic Alexandria and Cyprus

Abstract

Collective burial structures - tomb complexes built for the purpose of intering multiple individuals - are one of the most important aspects of the funerary landscape of Alexandria. These structures first appear in the earliest cemetery of Alexandria, Shatby, with the tomb known as Hypogeum A. Some similar structures in Cyprus are usually considered to have been constructed as a result of Alexandrian influence, in particular the Tombs of the Kings. While the architectural influence is undeniable, the nuances of practice and meaning of collective burial were different in each place. In Cyprus, though the Hellenistic period saw some definitive changes in tomb architecture, collective burial itself as a mortuary practice had been the norm across the island since late Neolithic. This paper considers collective burial as a practice in general, while also examining specific Hellenistic tombs in Alexandria and Cyprus, taking into account both architectural form and the nature of collective burial itself. In both Alexandria and Cyprus, there is a clear distinction between two levels of collective burial: inclusion in a communal tomb such as a hypogeum, and multiple burial within a specific context, one that might result in comingled remains. The specific meaning behind each choice, however, remains particularly Alexandrian and Cypriot.