Tholos (Beehive) Tomb

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Apokoronos 730 07, Greece

A beehive tomb, also known as a tholos tomb , is a burial structure characterized by its false dome created by the superposition of successively smaller rings of mudbricks or, more often, stones. The resulting structure resembles a beehive, hence the traditional English name. Tholoi were used for burial in several cultures in the Mediterranean and West Asia, but in some cases they were used for different purposes such as homes , ritual , and even fortification . Although Max Mallowan used the same name for the circular houses belonging to the Neolithic culture of Tell Halaf , there is no relationship between them.
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Tholos (Beehive) Tomb Videos

Kamilari tholos tomb

The Kamilari tholos tomb, in the area of the Palace of Phaistos, was in use for over one thousand years. For more information visit

Tholos Tomb Entrance

The entrance to a Tholos tomb at Mycenae - ignore the references to Spanish mullets and rattails - they do exist, but not in this video, that's a later adventure. This shows just how big this Tholos tomb is, notice the height of the people as the enter the tomb versus the size of the entrance.

Mycenaean Tholos Tombs. Freizeittipps

The Mycenean cemeteries of Pellana and Aidonia in Greece.
Kладбищах микенской культурыPellana и Aidonia в Греции.

BEEHIVE TOMB IN GREECE.wmv

As part of our tour of Mycenae in October 2007, we visited the famous Beehive Tomb.

0301 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

301 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

303 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

0305 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

305 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

tholos tomb

0304 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

304 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

Exploring a Tholos Tomb

0302 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

302 Beehive Tholos Tomb of Clytemnestra at Mycenae, Greece

Agammenon's Tomb

Tholos

Mycenae Tomb of Clytemnestra

This is a walk round the monumental tholos ('bee-hive') tomb at Mycenae known as the 'Tomb of Clytemnestra'. It's one of several such tombs in and around Mycenae, and there are many more scattered around Greece. Very few have yielded much in the way of finds since the graves they once contained have usually been robbed out. This tomb is no exception and has stood open probably since not long after it was built in the 15th century BC. This is of particular interest to students taking Unit CC1 (Entry Code F381) Archaeology of the Classical World in OCRs AS-Level Classical Civilization course.

Late Minoan Tholos Tomb, Maleme, Crete

Minoan Tholas Tomb at Kamilari Crete

The Minoan tholos tomb at Kamilari was discovered 3 km west of Phaistos(Festos), on the hill of Grigori Korfi, about 80 m high. It was built on the north side of the hill, in a spot with a panoramic view of the Asterousia Mountains, Psiloritis and the Messara Plain.

The tomb was discovered in the summer of 1959 following the excavations by Italian professor Doro Levi, who dated it to circa 2000 BC, detailing its historical phases on the basis of the cult and funerary finds. The tomb was used at different times, in 1800 BC, 1700 BC and 1500 BC - this last is the date of most of the offerings found during the excavation.

The Kamilari tomb was half underground, built in the usual tholos tomb method, of stones of varying sizes and mud. It is quite large, 2.15m high, with circular walls 1.75m thick and an outer perimeter measuring 33.8m. The entrance to the tomb faces east and was sealed with a large slab measuring 1.15 x 1.05m.

The tomb consisted of five smaller rooms with an inner courtyard which was located outside the tomb. The tomb had a wooden roof set on a concrete base.

The tomb contained significant finds now housed in Heraklion Archaeological Museum. They include a clay figurine of worshippers and a statuette of four dancers in a circle, resembling a modern Cretan dance, now known as the Kamilari Dancers.

Cretan funerary customs, as indicated by the excavation finds, were linked to the worship and honouring of the illustrious dead. The tholos tombs of the Minoan period were grand, imposing buildings, constructed with great care in a particular style of architecture, demonstrating the social organisation of the time.

The care of the dead in Crete did not include only the standard rituals on the burial day, but also lasted for a considerable time afterwards, with memorial services, funerary repasts and offerings to the dead. The offerings and grave goods which the Cretans buried with the body provide historians with much important information on dead person's status.

Team discovers a rare Minoan sealstone in the treasure laden tomb of a Bronze Age Greek warrior

The tiny sealstone depicting warriors in battle measures just 1.4 inches across but contains incredible detail. Credit: University of Cincinnati

A digitally altered illustration of the seal found in the tomb of the Griffin Warrior. Credit: University of Cincinnati

UC archaeologist Shari Stocker stands at the site of the Griffin Warrior, a 3,500-year-old tomb in southern Greece. Credit: University of Cincinnati

Iliad, Book VIII, lines 245–53, Greek manuscript, late 5th, early 6th centuries AD.

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Exploring Another Tholos Tomb

inside a Bulgarian tholos tomb

10 people crammed inside a tholos or bee hive tomb in central Bulgaria

Minoan Cliff Side Tomb

This is a Minoan tomb (from perhaps 1500-2000 BC) on the edge of a cliff at Paliopolis in Kythira.

There's a huge hole because part of the cliff has fallen away sometime during the last 3500 years.

Lots of Minoan tombs have been found around Paliopolis.

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Entering Tomb of Clytemnestra, a Bronze Age tholos tomb in Mycenae, Greece.