The Most Elaborate Tombs Around The World

Culture: French

Time period built: Late 1600s (and reconstructed later)

Napoleon had a fondness for Dôme des Invalides during his lifetime. The tallest structure in Paris until the Eiffel Tower, Napoleon often visited his soldiers inside the elaborate building. 

But when Napoleon died from stomach cancer in 1821, he was exiled to the island of St. Helena; therefore, he was buried on the island. This was where he stayed until 1840 when King Louis-Philippe was determined to bury Napoleon on proper French soil. And the king had the perfect spot in mind: Dôme des Invalides.

Getting Napoleon's tomb inside the domed building was no easy task - major renovations had to be done to get it inside. But now, Napoleon lives in one of the great architectural buildings in Paris. 

Culture: Indian

Time period built: 16th and 17th centuries

The Qutub Shahi tombs are some of the oldest monuments in the Hyderabad area of India. They were built to honor the Golconda kings, who are buried within the massive tombs. 

These tombs are rounded in their top section, with a square base supporting them. The architecture, consisting of gray granite and stucco accents, combines the styles of Persian, Pathan, and Hindu architecture. 

Originally, they were designed with a flash of color - including blue and green tiles. But today, those no longer remain. 

Culture: Macedonian

Time period built: 300s BCE

Even if you're not familiar with Philip II of Macedon, you're likely familiar with his son: Alexander the Great. While Alexander famously conquered the Persian empire before his death at the age of 32, his father set up the groundwork for him. 

Philip II was the first king to unite Macedon through his ingenious military tactics. Following his shocking death (he was stabbed at his daughter's wedding), it makes sense his people would want to give him a grand final resting place. 

The site ended up being the family plot in Vergina, Greece. Philip II was buried with all the treasures appropriate for a king - a golden larnake (small coffin) as well as a helmet and shield. We know this because archaeologists actually found these artifacts in the tomb, undisturbed. This is amazing as all the other tombs in the area, 50 in total, had been robbed of their treasures. 

It seems that after a revolt, followers of Philip II had covered his tomb in dirt, hoping to hide its location. Well, they were quite successful - keeping it hidden for over 2,000 years.

Culture: Sumerian

Time period built: 2600 BCE

The tombs of Ur are remarkable based on their sheer number - archaeologists have uncovered over 1800 burial sites in this one cemetery. There were 16, however, that stuck out - as the tombs seemed to belong to the upper class or even royalty. 

Researchers were able to assess that these 16 tombs were different for a few different reasons. One, these tombs had multiple rooms, not just a simple pit. Two, they had jewels and other fineries buried with the bodies. Three, and most startling, there were dozens of bodies of servants, soldiers, or even ladies in waiting scattered throughout the floor of the rooms. 

Some believe these people may have died by their own hand (perhaps poison), while others believe it may have been the act of human sacrifice.  

Culture: Roman

Time period built: 2nd century CE

The Kom El Shoqafa catacombs offer a unique combination of three distinct styles of architecture: Egyptian, Hellenistic, and early Imperial Roman. It makes sense that this blending of styles was built in Alexandria, one of the artistic hubs of the ancient world. 

What's amazing about these tombs is the vastness of the complex. There are tunnels, banquet rooms (where the living would feast on behalf of their dearly departed), and different kinds of chambers all snaked underground. 

Outside the entrance to the catacombs, there have been many pottery artifacts found. These are mostly shattered pottery, however, as the people paying respect to the dead would bring their offerings of food or wine - and smash them on the floor (per tradition). 

Culture: Egyptian

Time period built: 1300s BCE

We'd be remiss if we didn't include the most famous tomb of all - King Tutankhamun's - on this list. By all accounts, Tutankhamun's tomb wasn't incredibly large or extravagant for a pharaoh. This could be due to a few factors - his short reign or the unexpected death of the young ruler. 

But what has made Tutankhamun's tomb go down in history is that it was nearly intact 3,000 years after being sealed. The vast majority of famous pharaohs were looted, with many of the treasures and artifacts being stolen and sold away. 

Tutankhamun's tomb was forgotten - therefore, it held over 5,000 artifacts by the time archaeologists discovered it in 1922. These included chariots, furniture, weapons, and even walking sticks of the young king (who had a club foot). His tomb has become one of the finest archaeological finds of the past century and has given unprecedented insight into ancient Egyptian culture,