The Burial Chapel of Melisende, Queen of the Kingdom of Jerusalem: A Reexamination

This article reexamines various aspects of the burial chapel of Melisende, queen of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (∼1105–1161 CE), which is integrated into the Tomb of Mary in Jerusalem’s Kidron Valley. The article analyses the various components of the Frankish chapel, with an emphasis on the eastern arcosolium, which served as a personal altar for prayer for the repose of the queen’s soul. The article proposes an exact location for where Melisende’s sarcophagus once stood, before disappearing after the end of the Frankish rule. Another point raised in the article is the symbolism of the stone sculpture of the burial chapel, which, it is argued, contains evidence for the number of years of Melisende's reign in the form of the white lily flower. While the Frankish kings were buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Tomb of Mary became a parallel burial place for the Frankish queens. In addition to Melisende, other female rulers are known to have been buried there, including Morphia, Melisende’s mother. The comparison between the royal burial places highlights their similarity and the symbolism of the earthly reign of the kings and queens of Jerusalem compared to the heavenly reign of Jesus and Mary.