31 Pics of Elaborate Tombs Honoring the Dead
Cameron Fetter
Published
04/23/2025
in
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When people like you or me die, they just throw us in a box in the dirt and are done with it. But A-lister historical figures like Napoleon Bonaparte or Jesus Christ get entirely different treatment altogether. Ostentatious doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Since the early days of civilization, people have been honoring beloved public figures by building them extravagant buildings to be buried inside. And while tombs don’t get quite as big and brash as these nowadays, we can still admire the mausoleums that have stood the test of time against the elements.
Check out these impressive architectural achievements and think about what the last thing you built was. Maybe an IKEA desk chair?
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1. Grant’s Tomb
This tomb stands in honor of the General of the Union Army and President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant. It was built by donations from over 90,000 people around the world after his death. It is the largest mausoleum in North America. -
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4. Lenin Mausoleum
The Lenin Mausoleum is located in the heart of Moscow, in the Red Square. Inside, Lenin’s mummified body is preserved inside glass at a temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit and 80-90% humidity, to ensure that he remains as lifelike as possible. A team of embalmers maintain his body, which includes changing his suit every three years. -
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7. Tomb of Agamemnon
Also known as the Treasury of Atreus, it was built around 1250 BCE. Legend says it is the final resting place of King Agamemnon, though the truth of the matter is still unknown. -
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9. Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was completed in 1648 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a final resting place for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The two lie together in the crypt inside the famous building. -
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12. Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are ancient ossuaries underneath Paris, France, which contain the bones of over six million people. They were built to reinforce Paris’s ancient stone quarries. You can visit them today. -
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15. Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang
The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, died in 210 BCE and had a massive burial complex built for him. It is filled with the Terracotta Army– more than 8,000 soldiers and horses made from clay. -
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19. Mausoleum of Hadrian
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, also called Castel Sant’Angelo, is located in Rome. It contains the remains of Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, and many other Roman emperors. It was once the tallest building in Rome. -
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23. Tomb of Jesus
Emperor Constantine of Rome unearthed what was thought to be the tomb of Jesus Christ in 306 CE. He built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre around it. -
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25. Tomb of Jahangir
Shah Jahan, constructor of the Taj Mahal, also built this ostentatious tomb for his father, the Mughal emperor Jahangir. The Tomb of Jahangir is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Pakistan. -
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29. Napoleon’s Tomb
Napoleon died in exile on the island of St. Helena in 1821, some years after his infamous defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. He was originally buried on the island, but his remains were returned to France in 1840 and an elaborate monument befitting his imperial ambitions was built to house his body. Napoleon’s body was placed inside seven coffins, each nesting inside the last. -
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That's a big box for such a small guy.
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Grant’s Tomb
This tomb stands in honor of the General of the Union Army and President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant. It was built by donations from over 90,000 people around the world after his death. It is the largest mausoleum in North America.
This tomb stands in honor of the General of the Union Army and President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant. It was built by donations from over 90,000 people around the world after his death. It is the largest mausoleum in North America.
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