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Tomb IGN44 is located on the southeastern slope of the southern sector of the main massif of the AlBanat necropolis. The façade, belonging to the Hegra type, faces southeast and features two half-crowsteps on a plain background, an Egyptian entablature composed of a cornice and an architrave, and a plain attic. Below this, an Ionic entablature includes a cornice and a plain frieze with a single register architrave and a central cartouche that contains Nabataean inscriptions.
The entrance is crowned by a triangular pediment with a tympanum decorated with a bearded face with large, prominent eyes and an open mouth revealing teeth, flanked by two lateral snakes. The figure has been interpreted as Humbaba or the god Bès. Three acroteria complete the design: a central eagle with spread wings and two lateral vases. The composite entablature features an Ionic cornice and a Doric frieze with alternating triglyphs and metopes with large decorative rosettes.
Les tombeaux nabatéens de Hegra vol. II Nehmé L. Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres Paris 2015 pp.89-93
The Nabataean Tomb Inscriptions of Mada’In Salih Healey J.F. Oxford University Press Oxford 1993 p.166
“This is the tomb which ‘Aydu the prefect son of ‘Ubaydu made for himself and for his children and for his descendants. And Aftiyu mother of this same ‘Aydu daughter of Habibu and Na’itat his wife daughter of Sullay, and whoever produces in his hand a writ from the hand of this ‘Aydu may be buried in this tomb. And this tomb was made in the month of Adar the eleventh year of King Maliku King of the Nabataeans. ‘Abd’obodat son of Wahballahi and Hani’u son of ‘Ubaydat and Afsa son of Hutu the masons made it.”
