Like in the Greek mainland, spacious extra-urban necropoleis were an integral part of Hellenistic cities in Sicily. In addition to a large number of simple tombs marked only with modest gravestones, elaborately designed grave monuments with widely ranging sizes and forms existed nearly everywhere. These did not only serve to mark the burials, but also had a representative function.
In recent decades, research on Hellenistic necropoleis in Sicily has focused on grave goods and burial practices and rites. In contrast, a general overview of Hellenistic tomb architecture and its significance in a wider Mediterranean context is still lacking. My dissertation project aims at filling this gap, providing a compilation and detailed analysis and reconstruction of all preserved fragments and monuments. This paper will discuss approaches and first results of my research, presenting selected examples.