These limestone tombs, which date from about 250 BC,
are painted to simulate alabaster and marble. They are
decorated with pictures of Egyptian gods and daily life,
along with graffiti, which also dates from the same
period.
The tomb lies to the south of the esplanade leading to
the palace of "Ras el-Tin" and consists of five
tombs, all dating from the first half of the 3rd century.
They were discovered in 1901 and 1921. The first and most
remarkable of the tombs is reached by way of a vaulted
stairway hewn out of the rock, leading down into a square
courtyard which is open to the sky and provides access to
two tombs. The walls of the stairway and tombs have a
painted stucco revetment imitating alabaster and marble.
The vaulted ceiling of the funeral chamber is decorated
with geometric "trompe l'oeil" designs
reminiscent of the covered ceiling in certain ancient
villas. The funeral motifs are an example of the combined
influence of Greek art and the traditional forms of
Egyptian arts.