Archaeological Evidence

The monumental rock-cut burial complex known as the Tombs of the Kings in Jerusalem is traditionally associated with Queen Helena of Adiabene. Josephus reports that she prepared a burial monument near Jerusalem and that her remains and those of Izates were interred there. A sarcophagus bearing a name often connected with the royal family has been found at the site, but identification of individual burials requires caution. Archaeological and inscriptional evidence from northern Mesopotamia also illuminates the region, though many specific royal events are known chiefly from literary accounts.