tholos

American  

[thoh-los, -lohs] / ˈθoʊ lɒs, -loʊs /

noun

plural

tholoi

1. (in classical architecture)

   1. a circular building.

   2. a small, round structure, as a lantern.

   3. a circular subterranean tomb, lined with masonry.

2. a subterranean domed tomb chamber of the Mycenaean age.

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tholos British  

/ ˈθəʊlɒs /

noun

1. a dry-stone beehive-shaped tomb associated with the Mycenaean culture of Greece in the 16th to the 12th century _bc

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Etymology

Origin of tholos

First recorded in 1895–1900, tholos is from the Greek word thólos literally, rotunda

Example Sentences

Both were originally built in a beehive shape known as a tholos but had collapsed.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2019

When they did find the first tholos tomb, they realized to their horror that another excavator had been at work before them, using a backhoe.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2019

Also, monumental architecture, including many tholos tombs, was excavated at Mycene in the 19th century.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2019

Fortunately the huge stones of the tholos tomb prevented even the backhoe operator from making much progress or destroying the site’s archaeological value.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2019

They are neither buried with their arms, in stately tholos tombs nor in shaft graves, as at Mycenae: whether they be princes or simple oarsmen, they are cremated.

From Homer and His Age by Lang, Andrew