Saudi Gazette report

ALULA — The Lion Tombs are among the most distinctive archaeological landmarks in AlUla, serving as powerful cultural symbols of the northwest Arabian Peninsula and dating back to the early first millennium BCE.

Located at the base of Mount Dadan, the site features a range of rock-cut tombs carved directly into the sandstone cliffs.

These burial structures vary in form, from complex chambers containing multiple graves to individual square niches cut more than two meters deep into the mountain face.

One tomb, however, stands apart. Known as the Lion Tombs, it features four carved lions on its façade, with two lions flanking each grave.

The figures are set within recessed rectangular panels and face forward, standing upright on their forelegs.

The lions are rendered in a stylized and geometric manner, with facial features and manes depicted through simple horizontal lines. Despite their minimalistic execution, the carvings convey a strong symbolic presence.

Across ancient Near Eastern civilizations, the lion was widely associated with protection, power, and prestige. Its use in funerary architecture often reflected beliefs tied to safeguarding the dead and emphasizing status or authority.

The Lion Tombs represent a significant chapter in AlUla’s archaeological narrative, illustrating the evolution of artistic expression, architectural techniques, and burial practices over successive historical periods.

Today, the tombs remain a key element of AlUla’s cultural heritage, offering insight into the region’s role as an important center of civilization in antiquity.