Eve's Tomb In Saudi Arabia: The Legendary Burial Site (image: instagram.com/geosergio81)

Eve’s Tomb is one of the oldest cemeteries situated in the Al Balad district of Saudi Arabia‘s Jeddah. The site is also known as the Tomb of Eve or Eve’s Grave. It is believed by some Muslims to be the burial place of the first woman, Eve, as in Adam and Eve.

Eve is considered the ‘Grandmother of Humanity’ and the word Jeddah in Arabic means ‘Grandmother’.  Thus, the city supposedly received its name from the woman who rests there.

Also Read | Al Wahbah Crater: Saudi Arabia’s Magnificent Natural Anomaly

The tomb finds its presence in many classic travel narratives and historical documents tracing back to the 12th century. Arab historian and cartographer Muhammad al-Idrisi mentioned Eve’s tomb in his writings, as did Ibn Jubayr, an Arab geographer and traveler, in his travelogues. Besides, tomb finds reference in the original translations of the Book of One Thousand Nights and A Night.

In 1928, part of the cemetery was destroyed by the Sultan of Nejd and the King of Hejaz as they did not want to promote idolatry. In 1975, the legendary burial site was sealed with concrete by religious authorities to prevent pilgrims from praying or paying homage.

Also Read | ‘Maldives Of Arabs’: Stunning Beaches Of Saudi’s Umluj Enchant Travelers

The tomb was estimated to be 120 meters long, three meters wide, and six meters high before its condition began to worsen due to neglect. Wahhabist authorities believed that giving excessive consideration to a grave site was likely to lead to idolatry.

Those who are interested in archeological sites, Eve’s legendary resting place is must visit site in Saudi Arabia. However, the graveyard where the tomb lies is only accessible to Muslims.