Tomb of Pharaoh's daughter facts for kids
The Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter (also known as the Monolith of Silwan) is a very old burial building found in Jerusalem. It's located in the Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery. This unique structure is believed by Jewish tradition to be the tomb of an Egyptian wife of the famous King Solomon.
The tomb stands at the end of the Kidron Valley necropolis, which is an ancient burial ground. It is situated below the homes in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. What makes this tomb special is that it's the only one in this entire burial area that is a freestanding building, not a cave carved into the rock.
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What is the Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter?
This ancient building is a tomb, which is a place where someone was buried long ago. It's called a "monolith" because it looks like it was carved from one single piece of rock, even though it was built. The tomb has been standing for thousands of years, showing us how people built things in the past.
Where is this Tomb Located?
The Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter is in Jerusalem, a city with a very long history. It is part of the Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery, which is one of the oldest and most important cemeteries in the world. The tomb is at the very end of a valley called the Kidron Valley. This valley is famous for having many ancient tombs.
Who Was Buried Here?
According to a long-standing Jewish tradition, this tomb was built for an Egyptian wife of King Solomon. King Solomon was a very important and wise king of ancient Israel. He is known for building the First Temple in Jerusalem. While this is a strong tradition, archaeologists and historians are still studying the tomb to learn more about its true history and who might have been buried there.
Why is This Tomb Special?
Most of the other tombs in the Kidron Valley necropolis are caves. This means they were carved directly into the natural rock of the hillsides. However, the Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter is different. It is a freestanding building, meaning it was constructed above ground. This makes it a very unique and important example of ancient architecture in the area. Its design and construction show advanced building skills from a very long time ago.
