noun

necropolis

nuh-KRAH-puh-lis/nəˈkrɑːpəlɪs/

A large cemetery, especially one belonging to an ancient city.

Rows of stone tombs fill the ancient necropolis.

An elevated three-quarter view of a large ancient cemetery: repeated rows of weathered stone tombs and grave markers extend along narrow burial lanes, with an open foreground tomb exposing a stone sarcophagus to distinguish the burial complex from ordinary ruins.

Etymology

Literally a “city of the dead,” the compound treats a burial place as a city belonging to its dead inhabitants. It became a term for a large cemetery.

In context

LifesBiggestQuestions40:14

located in the vast Sakara necropolis an ancient burial ground about 30 kilometers south of modern-day Cairo Egypt

3 Hours Of Ancient Megalithic Structures That Humans Could Not Have Built

More examples

Rows of tombs lined the necropolis.
A narrow passage connected two chambers in the necropolis.
Visitors entered the necropolis through a stone gateway.

Forms

necropolis · necropolises

Similar words

cemetery: Cemetery is the general word; necropolis often suggests a large ancient burial complex.
mausoleum: A mausoleum is a tomb building; a necropolis contains many burial places.