page_title: Hypogeum
hierarchical_section_title: Hypogeum
caption_attribution_description: English: Entrance of the Three Brother's hypogeum in the South-West necropolis of Palmyra, Syria Français&#160;: Entrée de l'hypogée des Trois-Frères dans la nécropole Sud-Ouest de Palmyre en Syrie
context_page_description: A hypogeum or hypogaeum is an underground temple or tomb.
  Hypogea will often contain niches for cremated human remains or loculi for buried remains. Occasionally tombs of this type are referred to as built tombs.
  The term hypogeum can also refer to any antique building or part of building built below ground such as the series of tunnels under the Colosseum which held slaves and animals while keeping them ready to fight in the gladiatorial games. The animals and slaves could be let up through trapdoors under the sand-covered arena at any time during a fight.
context_section_description: A hypogeum or hypogaeum (plural hypogea or hypogaea, pronounced /haɪpɒɡeɪə/; literally meaning "underground", from Greek hypo (under) and gaia (mother earth or goddess of earth)) is an underground temple or tomb. 
  Hypogea will often contain niches for cremated human remains or loculi for buried remains. Occasionally tombs of this type are referred to as built tombs.
  The term hypogeum can also refer to any antique building or part of building built below ground such as the series of tunnels under the Colosseum which held slaves (particularly enemy captives) and animals while keeping them ready to fight in the gladiatorial games. The animals and slaves could be let up through trapdoors under the sand-covered arena at any time during a fight.
caption: Entrance of the Three Brothers' hypogeum in Palmyra, Syria
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