Tombs of Famous Biblical Characters

Biblical characters have lived hundreds or thousands of years ago but their tombs where their remains were buried still exist today. Let’s find out the locations of the tombs of some famous Biblical characters like Mary, Peter, John, David and many others.

1.) Noah’s Tomb

Noah’s Tomb is contained within the Imam ‘Ali Holy Shrine, a mosque located in Najaf, Iraq. Noah’s story regarding the ‘Great Flood’ was told in the book of Genesis. Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph, is buried here. Ali was the cousin of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. This Shrine is also known as Masjid Ali or the Mosque of ‘Ali. Muslims also believed that Adam’s remains are buried here although Jews believed he was buried at the Cave of the Patriarchs.

2.) St. Peter’s Tomb

One of the most popular and grandest tombs in the world is the tomb of St. Peter, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus and considered by Catholics as the first Pope. St. Peter’s Tomb is located underneath the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

3.) Mary’s Tomb

Mary, the foster mother of Jesus Christ, is one of the most revered persons in the world. Her tomb is also one of the most visited tombs in the world. Mary’s Tomb is located in Kidron Valley on Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel.

4.) Abel’s Tomb

The Tomb of Abel is located inside the Nabi Habeel Mosque in Damascus, Syria. Abel, known to the Muslims as Habeel, was the brother of Cain and the son of Adam – the first man on Earth. His story is told in the book of Genesis.

5.) Tomb of the Patriarchs

The Cave of the Patriarchs is located in Hebron. The cave is a series of subterranean caves located in a complex called by Muslims the Ibrahimi Mosque or Sanctuary of Abraham. Jews, Muslims and Christians believed that the site is the burial place of four Biblical couples: (1) Adam and Eve; (2) Abraham and Sarah; (3) Isaac and Rebekah;
(4) Jacob and Leah. The Cave of the Patriarchs also contains the head of Esau and is the burial place of Jacob's twelve sons. The Tombs of the Patriarchs is the world’s second most sacred site in Judaism, the holiest is the Temple Mount. It is also known as the Cave of the Tombs of Couples,Cave of Machpelah and Cave of the Double Tombs.

6.) Jethro’s Tomb

This burial site is the Tomb of Jethro or Nabi Shu’ayb. The tomb is located in Hittin near Tiberias. Jethro is the father-in-law of Moses. He was a Kenite shepherd and priest of El Shaddai. He is identified as Shuaib in Isla, one of the prophets in the Quran.

7.) Tomb of Samuel

The Tomb of Samuel is the traditional burial site of the biblical Hebrew prophet Samuel. It is situated on top of a steep hill in Jerusalem, Israel. The tomb is located in an underground chamber where a small synagogue is located.

8.) Tomb of St. John

St. John or John the Apostle is one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. The traditional tomb of St. John is located at Ephesus, Turkey. He was the son of Zebedec and Salome and brother of another apostle – Saint James.

9.) Tomb of Daniel

The Tomb of Daniel in Susa, Iran is a popular tourist attraction for both Muslims and Jewish. The Tomb of Daniel is the traditional burial site of Daniel, a popular biblical prophet. The Book of Daniel states that Daniel lived in Babylon and possibly visited Susa. The specific place where he died was not mentioned which is why there are six different locations which claim to be the site of his tomb.

10.) King David’s Tomb

King David’s Tomb is traditionally believed as the burial place of King David. The tomb is located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, Israel. It is situated in a ground floor corner of the remains of the former Hagia Zion, a Byzantine church. The building is now part of the Diaspora Yeshiva.