Mausoleum

Model of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (near modern-day Bodrum in Turkey), the grave of King Mausolus, the Persian satrap of Caria from which the word mausoleum was derived.[1]
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Anıtkabir is the mausoleum of Atatürk, leader of the Turkish National Movement during the Turkish War of Independence, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. It attracts around 3.5 million tourists yearly.[2]
The Thalmayer mausoleum, one of the many destroyed mausoleums (Hungary, Budapest, Fiume Road Graveyard)

A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb, or the tomb may be considered to be within the mausoleum.[3]

Overview

The word mausoleum (from the Ancient Greek: μαυσωλεῖον) derives from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (near modern-day Bodrum in Turkey), the grave of King Mausolus, the Persian satrap of Caria, whose large tomb was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.[1]

Mausolea were historically, and still may be, large and impressive constructions for a deceased leader or other person of importance. However, smaller mausolea soon became popular with the gentry and nobility in many countries. In the Roman Empire, these were often in necropoles or along roadsides: the via Appia Antica retains the ruins of many private mausolea for kilometres outside Rome. When Christianity became dominant, mausolea were out of use.[4]

Later, mausolea became particularly popular in Europe and its colonies during the early modern and modern periods. A single mausoleum may be permanently sealed. A mausoleum encloses a burial chamber either wholly above ground or within a burial vault below the superstructure. This contains the body or bodies, probably within sarcophagi or interment niches. Modern mausolea may also act as columbaria (a type of mausoleum for cremated remains) with additional cinerary urn niches. Mausolea may be located in a cemetery, a churchyard or on private land.

In the United States, the term may be used for a burial vault below a larger facility, such as a church. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California, for example, has 6,000 sepulchral and cinerary urn spaces for interments in the lower level of the building. It is known as the "crypt mausoleum". In Europe, these underground vaults are sometimes called crypts or catacombs.

A chapel mausoleum or mausoleum chapel in a cemetery can be used for closed-casket funeral services prior to interments.[5][6]

Notable mausoleums

Africa

Algeria

  • El Alia Cemetery in Oued Smar.
  • Jedars, thirteen ancient monumental Berber mausoleums located south of Tiaret.
  • Madghacen, a royal Numidian mausoleum from the 3rd century, Batna.
  • Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, monumental grave of the Numidian Berber king Juba II and the Queen Cleopatra Selene II located on the road between Cherchell and Algiers, in Tipaza Province.
  • The tomb of Masinissa (Soumâa) in El Khroub
  • Mausoleum of Sidi Abderrahmane Et-Thaalibi in Algiers.
  • Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (Tipaza)
    Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (Tipaza)
  • Frenda Jedars (Frenda)
    Frenda Jedars (Frenda)
  • The tomb of Massinissa (El Khroub)
    The tomb of Massinissa (El Khroub)
  • Mausoleum of Sidi Abderrahmane Et-Thaalibi (Algiers)
    Mausoleum of Sidi Abderrahmane Et-Thaalibi (Algiers)

Egypt

  • Al-Hussein Mosque is a shrine and mausoleum in Cairo, Egypt, and the purported burial place of Muhammad's grandson, Husayn ibn Ali
  • Al-Rifa'i Mosque is a shrine and mausoleum in Cairo, Egypt, and the burial place of the Royal Family of Egypt and Iran.
  • Gamal Abdel Nasser Mosque is a shrine and mausoleum in Cairo, Egypt, and the burial place of Gamal Abdel Nasser, second president of Egypt.
  • Mastabas dating from ancient Egypt
  • Qalawun complex, contains the mausoleum of Qalawun in Cairo, Egypt
  • The Unknown Soldier Memorial is a pyramid-shaped monument in Nasr City, Egypt
  • Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
    Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
  • Al-Rifa'i Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
    Al-Rifa'i Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
  • Gamal Abdel Nasser Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
    Gamal Abdel Nasser Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
  • Qalawun complex in Cairo, Egypt
    Qalawun complex in Cairo, Egypt
  • Unknown Soldier Memorial in Cairo, Egypt
    Unknown Soldier Memorial in Cairo, Egypt

Morocco

  • Cheikh Al Kamel Mausoleum, monumental grave of Mohammed al-Hadi ben Issa the founder of Isawiyya in Meknes, Morocco.
  • Mausoleum of Mohammed V, monumental grave of King Mohammed V and his sons (King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah) in Rabat, Morocco.
  • Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, monumental grave of Sultan Moulay Ismail in Meknes, Morocco.
  • Cheikh Al Kamel Mausoleum in Meknes, Morocco
    Cheikh Al Kamel Mausoleum in Meknes, Morocco
  • Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco
    Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco
  • Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail in Meknes, Morocco
    Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail in Meknes, Morocco

Tunisia

  • Bourguiba mausoleum, monumental grave of Habib Bourguiba, first president of Tunisia, in Monastir, Tunisia
  • Libyco-Punic Mausoleum of Dougga, ancient mausoleum in Dougga, Tunisia.
  • Mausoleum of Lalla Mennana, in Tunis, Tunisia.
  • Sidi Belhassen Chedly Mausoleum, monumental grave of Belhassen Chedly, near the Jellaz cemetery in Tunis.
  • Tourbet el Bey, monumental grave of the former Tunisian Royal Family, in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia
  • Tourbet Aziza Othmana, monumental grave of Aziza Othmana, a Tunisian princess of the Muradid dynasty in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia
  • Habib Bourguiba's mausoleum in Monastir, Tunisia
    Habib Bourguiba's mausoleum in Monastir, Tunisia
  • Libyco-Punic Mausoleum in Dougga, Tunisia
    Libyco-Punic Mausoleum in Dougga, Tunisia
  • Sidi Belhassen Chedly Mausoleum in Tunis, Tunisia
    Sidi Belhassen Chedly Mausoleum in Tunis, Tunisia
  • Tourbet el Bey in the Medina of Tunis
    Tourbet el Bey in the Medina of Tunis
  • Tourbet Aziza Othmana in the Medina of Tunis
    Tourbet Aziza Othmana in the Medina of Tunis

Others

Asia, Eastern, Southern, Central, and Southeast

Afghanistan

  • Tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Bangladesh

  • Mausoleum of Kazi Nazrul Islam
  • Mausoleum of Lalon Shah
  • Mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
  • Mausoleum of Three Leaders
  • Mausoleum of Ziaur Rahman
  • Mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
    Mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
  • Mausoleum of Three Leaders
    Mausoleum of Three Leaders
  • Mausoleum of Lalon Shah
    Mausoleum of Lalon Shah

China

  • List of mausoleums of Chinese monarchs
    • Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor biggest underground mausoleum
    • The pyramids of ancient China are also types of mausolea.
    • Qianling Mausoleum in China, houses the remains of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and the ruling Empress Wu Zetian, along with 17 others in auxiliary tombs.
    • Tomb and Mausoleum of Genghis Khan in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia.
    • Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
      • Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Nanjing
      • Thirteen Imperial Mausoleums of Ming Dynasty Emperors, Beijing
      • Fuling Tomb, Shenyang
      • Zhao Mausoleum (Qing Dynasty)
      • Eastern Qing Tombs
      • Western Qing Tombs
  • Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing.
  • Mausoleum of Yuan Shikai, Beiguan, Anyang.
  • Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, Beijing.
  • Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Xi'an, China
    Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Xi'an, China
  • Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing, China
    Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing, China
  • Mausoleum of Yuan Shikai, Beiguan, Anyang, China
    Mausoleum of Yuan Shikai, Beiguan, Anyang, China
  • Mausoleum of Mao Zedong in Beijing, China
    Mausoleum of Mao Zedong in Beijing, China

India

Indonesia

  • Grave of Sukarno
    Grave of Sukarno
  • Astana Giribangun
    Astana Giribangun

Japan

Malaysia

  • Makam Pahlawan at National Mosque of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
  • Makam Diraja Mahmoodiah at Bukit Mahmoodiah in Jalan Mahmoodiah, Johor Bahru, Johor
  • Hang Kasturi Mausoleum at Jonker Walk, Melaka City, Melaka
  • Kedah Royal Mausoleum at Langgar, Kota Setar District, Kedah
  • Kelantan Royal Mausoleum
  • Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum at Bukit Chandan in Jalan Istana, Kuala Kangsar
  • Hang Jebat Mausoleum in Melaka City, Melaka
  • Shah Alam Royal Mausoleum
  • Tun Teja Mausoleum in Merlimau, Jasin District, Melaka
  • Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum
  • Sultan Abdul Samad Mausoleum in Jugra, Banting, Selangor
  • Makam Diraja Mahmoodiah at Bukit Mahmoodiah in Jalan Mahmoodiah, Johor Bahru, Johor
    Makam Diraja Mahmoodiah at Bukit Mahmoodiah in Jalan Mahmoodiah, Johor Bahru, Johor

Pakistan

  • Tomb of Jahangir at Shahdara, near Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Mazar-e-Quaid at Karachi, Pakistan
  • Tomb of Allama Iqbal at Lahore, Pakistan
  • Data Durbar at Lahore, Pakistan
  • Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, Pakistan
  • Bhutto family mausoleum, Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Sindh, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Ali Jinnah Mausoleum in Karachi, Pakistan
    Muhammad Ali Jinnah Mausoleum in Karachi, Pakistan
  • Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire at Lahore, Pakistan
    Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire at Lahore, Pakistan
  • Tomb of Qutb ud-Din Aibak, founder of the Delhi Sultanate at Lahore, Pakistan
    Tomb of Qutb ud-Din Aibak, founder of the Delhi Sultanate at Lahore, Pakistan
  • Shrine of Islamic Naqshbandi saints of Allo Mahar Sharif.
    Shrine of Islamic Naqshbandi saints of Allo Mahar Sharif.
  • Tomb of Allama Iqbal at Lahore, Pakistan
    Tomb of Allama Iqbal at Lahore, Pakistan
  • The exterior view of the Mausoleum of Emperor Jahangir, located in Punjab, Pakistan
    The exterior view of the Mausoleum of Emperor Jahangir, located in Punjab, Pakistan

Philippines

  • Rizal Monument at Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines, houses the remains of Dr. Jose Rizal, national hero of the Philippines.
  • Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines.
  • Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution, enshrining participants in the 1896 revolution against the Spanish Empire.
  • Quezon Memorial, in Quezon City, Philippines, houses the remains of President Manuel L. Quezon and his wife, Aurora.
  • Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, housing the remains of President Ferdinand Marcos.

Taiwan

  • National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Mausoleum of late President Chiang Kai-shek, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
  • Mausoleum of late President Chiang Ching-kuo, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
  • Chen Tsyr-shiou Memorial Park, Former Mausoleum and Memorial of late Vice President Chen Cheng, Taishan District, New Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Mausoleum of late President Chiang in Taoyuan, Taiwan
    Mausoleum of late President Chiang in Taoyuan, Taiwan

Others

Asia, western

Iran

Iraq

Israel

  • Shrine of the Báb in Haifa
  • Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh in Acre

Jordan

Palestine

  • Mausoleum of Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, West Bank

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Europe

  • Imperial Crypt in Austria
  • Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Belgium
  • Batenberg Mausoleum in Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Cathedral of Saint Domnius in Split, Croatia
  • Royal Mausoleum and the Duchess of Kent's Mausoleum, Frogmore, Windsor, England
  • Trentham Mausoleum near Stoke-on-Trent, England
  • Juselius Mausoleum in Finland
  • Les Invalides in France
  • Panthéon, Paris in France
  • Bismarck Mausoleum outside Friedrichsruh in northern Germany
  • Lajos Batthyány's Mausoleum in Budapest, Hungary
  • Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome, Italy.
  • Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome, Italy
  • Pantheon, Rome in Italy
  • Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II in Austria
  • Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna, Italy
  • Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy
  • Wilhelm II Mausoleum in Doorn, Netherlands
  • National Pantheon / Church of Santa Engrácia in Lisbon, Portugal
  • Mausoleum of Marasesti in Marasesti, Romania
  • Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia
  • Cathedral of the Archangel in Moscow, Russia
  • Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow, Russia
  • Hamilton Mausoleum at Hamilton, Scotland
  • Damat Ali-Pasha Mausoleum, Belgrade, Serbia
  • House of Flowers in Belgrade, Serbia
  • House of Karađorđević Mausoleum, St. George's Church, Oplenac in Topola, Serbia
  • Valle de los Caídos in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
  • Les Invalides in Paris, France
    Les Invalides in Paris, France
  • The Panthéon in Paris, France
    The Panthéon in Paris, France
  • Jusélius Mausoleum at the Käppärä Cemetery in Pori, Finland
    Jusélius Mausoleum at the Käppärä Cemetery in Pori, Finland
  • Mausoleum of Njegoš in Lovćen, Montenegro
    Mausoleum of Njegoš in Lovćen, Montenegro
  • Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow, Russia
    Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow, Russia
  • House of Flowers in Belgrade, Serbia
    House of Flowers in Belgrade, Serbia
  • Oplenac in Topola, Serbia
    Oplenac in Topola, Serbia
  • Valle de los Caídos in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
    Valle de los Caídos in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

South America

Argentina

  • La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires
  • Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, mausoleum of José de San Martín
  • Mausoleum of Néstor Kirchner, Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz
  • Cathedral of La Plata, mausoleum of Dardo Rocha

Bolivia

  • Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, La Paz, mausoleum of Andrés de Santa Cruz
  • Cementerio General de Cochabamba, mausoleum of "general del pueblo" René Barrientos Ortuño
  • Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, La Paz, mausoleum of Andrés de Santa Cruz, Bolivia
    Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, La Paz, mausoleum of Andrés de Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Brazil

  • The Monument to the Independence of Brazil in São Paulo houses the sarcophagi of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil (also King of Portugal as Pedro IV) and his two wives
    The Monument to the Independence of Brazil in São Paulo houses the sarcophagi of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil (also King of Portugal as Pedro IV) and his two wives
  • The Imperial Mausoleum in the Cathedral of São Pedro de Alcântara in Petrópolis, Brazil. It is the final resting place of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil and other members of the Brazilian imperial family
    The Imperial Mausoleum in the Cathedral of São Pedro de Alcântara in Petrópolis, Brazil. It is the final resting place of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil and other members of the Brazilian imperial family
  • A mausoleum containing the remains of several Brazilian royals, as well as those of Franciscan friars, in the Convent of Santo Antônio, Rio de Janeiro
    A mausoleum containing the remains of several Brazilian royals, as well as those of Franciscan friars, in the Convent of Santo Antônio, Rio de Janeiro
  • The Monument to the dead of World War II in Rio de Janeiro. The below grade mausoleum holds the remains of 467 servicemen of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force who died in action in Italy during World War II
    The Monument to the dead of World War II in Rio de Janeiro. The below grade mausoleum holds the remains of 467 servicemen of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force who died in action in Italy during World War II
  • The JK Memorial is the burial place of Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek in Brasília, a city founded by Kubitschek himself
    The JK Memorial is the burial place of Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek in Brasília, a city founded by Kubitschek himself

Chile

Colombia

  • Central Cemetery of Bogotá, Colombia

Ecuador

Paraguay

  • National Pantheon of the Heroes
  • National Pantheon of the Heroes in Asunción, Paraguay
    National Pantheon of the Heroes in Asunción, Paraguay

Peru

  • Panteón de los Próceres
  • Presbítero Maestro, mausoleum and museum in Lima
  • Metropolitan Cathedral of Lima
  • Presbitero Maestro mausoleum and museum in Lima, Peru
    Presbitero Maestro mausoleum and museum in Lima, Peru

Uruguay

  • Artigas Mausoleum, mausoleum of José Gervasio Artigas
  • Monument at the entrance of the Artigas Mausoleum in Montevideo, Uruguay.
    Monument at the entrance of the Artigas Mausoleum in Montevideo, Uruguay.
  • Inside of the Artigas Mausoleum.
    Inside of the Artigas Mausoleum.

Venezuela

North America

Canada

  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Canada) in Ottawa, Ontario
  • Beechwood Cemetery in Vanier, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Chapel Lawn Cemetery in Winnipeg, Manitoba[8]
  • Eaton family mausoleum at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario
  • Fairview Mausoleum in Niagara Falls, Ontario[9]
  • Francis Nicholson Darke's mausoleum at Regina Cemetery in Regina, Saskatchewan
  • Hamilton Cemetery in Hamilton, Ontario
  • Hart Massey's mausoleum at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario
  • Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan[10]
  • Holy Cross Cemetery (Edmonton) in Edmonton, Alberta[11]
  • Larson Mausoleum in Lang, Saskatchewan[12]
  • Mount Royal Cemetery, Outremont, Quebec[13]
  • Mountain View Cemetery (Vancouver) in Vancouver, British Columbia[14]
  • Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, Cote-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grace, Montreal, Quebec[15]
  • Queen's Park Mausoleum in Calgary, Alberta[16]
  • Sir Henry Pellatt's mausoleum at Park Lawn Cemetery in Etobicoke, Ontario

Cuba

Dominican Republic

  • Altar de la Patria, mausoleum to the Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic
  • National Pantheon of the Dominican Republic

El Salvador

Guatemala

  • Guatemala City General Cemetery

Haiti

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

United States

Oceania

See also

  • List of mausolea
  • List of types of funerary monument
  • Morgue or mortuary
  • National Cemetery
  • Ohel (grave)
  • Sepulchre
  • Guard mounting

Notes

  1. ^ The plurals mausoleums and mausolea are both used in English, although mausoleums is more common.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Toms, J. Mason (Winter 2019). "Arkansas Listings in the National Register of Historic Places: The Community Mausoleums of Cecil E. Bryan". Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 78 (4): 423–431. ISSN 0004-1823.
  2. ^ "Anıtkabir'de yabancı ziyaretçi rekoru kırıldı". www.sozcu.com.tr (in Turkish). 28 October 2019. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  3. ^ "What is a mausoleum, and what are its pros and cons?". www.directcremationservicesofvirginia.com. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  4. ^ Paul Veyne, in A History of Private Life: I. From Pagan Rome to Byzantium, Veyne, ed. (Harvard University Press) 1987:416.
  5. ^ Crowther, Linnea (April 18, 2025). "The Pros and Cons of a Mausoleum". Legacy.com.
  6. ^ Keister, Doug (April 20, 2013). "Inside the Chapel Mausoleum". Mausoleums.com.
  7. ^ al-Qummi, Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni. Shiabooks.ca Press. p. 63.
  8. ^ "Chapel Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery". Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  9. ^ "Fairview Mausoleum".
  10. ^ "Mausoleums and Crypts". Archived from the original on 2025-02-23. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  11. ^ https://ecc.caedm.ca/our-cemeteries-holy-cross/
  12. ^ "HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca". www.historicplaces.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  13. ^ "The crypts and mausoleums of Mount Royal Cemetery - Mount Royal Commemorative Services". mountroyalcem.com. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  14. ^ "Discovery Day - Self guided Walk" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-06.
  15. ^ "Mausoleums". Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery.
  16. ^ "Queen's Park Mausoleum". www.calgary.ca.
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