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Helen Betts | all galleries >> Saudi Arabia: Life in the Desert >> UNESCO site Mada'in Saleh, Al-'Ula, Medina > Al-Aswad 'lion tombs'
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12-APR-2014

Al-Aswad 'lion tombs'

We traveled to a valley in Al-‘Ula famous for its ancient lion tombs, so called because of the lion figures cut into the rock above some of the tombs. The tombs are hard to see at this distance, but they’re built along the base of this mountain and are a bit clearer in the cropped close-up below.
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“Located a short distance north-east of al-Ula, on the cliffs within the valley in an area known as al-Khurayba, these tombs are evidence of 2,600 years of settlement in al-Ula, originally called Dedan. They are known as al-Aswad Tombs and were carved around the 6th century BC by the Lihyanites, the people who inhabited the oasis and created the powerful Kingdom of Dedan. The numerous tombs are mostly plain burial chambers carved into the rock, but a small number of them have lion sculptures above them. ... These tombs have become a symbol of al-Ula's ancient past.” (Taken from http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Saudi_Arabia/Mintaqat_al_Madinah/Al_Ula-1807519/Things_To_Do-Al_Ula-TG-C-1.html )


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Zeeby27-Apr-2014 08:41
An amazing scene! V
John Hamers27-Apr-2014 08:39
Great shot of the impressive rock formation. the colors of these rocks stands out beautifully against the blue sky. !V
Chris Morton27-Apr-2014 08:15
perhaps it is the formation itself that suggests 'lion'?
joseantonio27-Apr-2014 06:50
Very nice rock formation and lovely place for the tombs.V.