Mausoleum of Pozo Moro facts for kids

The Mausoleum of Pozo Moro in the Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España in Madrid

The Mausoleum of Pozo Moro is an ancient tomb built by the Iberians. It dates back to the late 6th century BC. This important historical site was found in 1970 during excavations in the Province of Albacete, Spain. A mausoleum is a large, impressive building used as a tomb.

Where is the Pozo Moro Mausoleum?

Pozo Moro is located near the Spanish town of Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón. It sits about 840 meters (2,756 feet) above sea level. It is also about 125 kilometers (78 miles) from the Mediterranean Sea.

An Important Ancient Crossroads

This location was very important in ancient times. It was where major roads met. One road went from Carthago Nova (Cartagena) to Complutum (Alcalá de Henares). Another important route was the Via Heraclea, also known as the Via Augusta. This road traveled south along the Guadalquivir river to Gades (Cádiz). It also ran along the Spanish Levante coast.

What Does the Pozo Moro Mausoleum Look Like?

Archaeologists found the Mausoleum of Pozo Moro in many pieces. It was spread out over a large area (12 x 12 meters) in an Iberian necropolis, which is an ancient cemetery. Experts have since carefully put it back together. You can now see the reconstructed mausoleum at the Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España in Madrid.

Building the Ancient Tomb

An Iberian king likely built this mausoleum around 500 BC. It is the oldest known Iberian grave monument. The way the pieces were found helped experts figure out how it originally looked. The structure was probably about 10 meters (33 feet) tall. It stood on a three-level square base, which was 3.65 meters (12 feet) wide.

Lions and Reliefs

Four stone lions once guarded the corners of the mausoleum. Its walls were also decorated with reliefs. Reliefs are sculptures carved into a flat surface. These carvings showed images of gods and goddesses. The style of these sculptures shows influences from ancient Hittite and Syrian art. This period is known as the "orientalizing phase" of Iberian art.

See also

In Spanish: Sepulcro de Pozo Moro para niños