The Western Roman Cemetery

The Western Roman Cemetery

The cemetery is situated near the northwestern walls of the Roman city of Nablus, approximately 100 meters from the Roman Hippodrome's end. It extends from the Blebos area, known for its concentration of ancient Roman-era tombs. The cemetery was uncovered in two phases: initially in 1965 by the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, revealing the western part, and later in 1982 during the construction of the Al-Kandi School, exposing the eastern section.

This cemetery is notable for its Roman burial practices, particularly for the upper class, and is known for its mausoleums. The burial methods varied based on the deceased's social, economic, and political status. It is one of only two such cemeteries found in the city, with the other, the Eastern Roman Cemetery, located in the far east near Askar village.

The Roman cemetery comprises three parallel burial chambers oriented east-west, preceded by a paved yard with limestone slabs on the western side. The yard, measuring 25.5 by 23.5 meters, features intricate tile engravings and includes two wells at the eastern and western ends for collecting rainwater—a tradition for purifying the deceased before burial.

The burial chambers, hewn from natural rock, have straight facades made of crushed limestone, with the frontispiece standing at 120 cm. Some stone decorations suggest a once-beautiful frieze above the facade. The chambers vary in size: the middle chamber measures 520 cm by 470 cm with a ceiling height of 250 cm, the eastern chamber is 325 cm by 310 cm with a ceiling height of 190 cm, and the western chamber is 325 cm by 300 cm with a ceiling height of 180 cm.

Each chamber features a thick stone door adorned with geometric motifs, equipped with basalt slides and secured with lead. The floors of the eastern and central chambers are paved with white mosaics, though the western chamber lacks such flooring. The chamber facades were plastered to cover rock fissures. 

Twenty-four coffins were found in the central and eastern chambers, carved from local limestone with stone and gabled covers, decorated with geometric, plant, and animal motifs. The western chamber contained no coffins. Unfortunately, the cemetery and its tombs have suffered from tampering and neglect, leading to damage and loss of some coffin parts.