Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone

A detail of the small square entrance to the multilevel burial chambers of the Tomb of Queen Helena.  Note especially, the slightly broken rolling stone that was used to cover the entrance to the tomb.  Rolling stone tombs are very rare in Israel.

There is a tradition that this tomb would open automatically on a certain day of the year, but this seems very far fetched!

BTW — You have to get down on your hands and knees to enter the tomb at this point—although once in, it is possible to stand erect in some chambers.