Tomb Near Dominus Flevit

Photo Comments

View into the interior of a typical first century A.D. tomb.  This tomb is located on the grounds of Dominus Flevit, which is situated on the upper western slope of the Mount of Olives.

The entrance to the tomb is at the lower right edge of the photo. There are two large steps down into the tomb. The floor of the tomb fills the lower portion of the image. A portion of the slightly raised "bench" (where the floor and the walls meet) is visible in the far corner of the tomb. Note the three niches in the far wall and two of the three in the wall of the left side. Three additional niches are in the wall on top of which this photograph was taken for a total of nine burial niches in this tomb. The ceiling of the tomb (partially collapsed) is visible at the top of the photo.

Bodies were placed in these niches, which were then sealed. After a year or so, the bones of the deceased were removed and placed in special boxes called ossuaries. Over 1,500 ossuaries have been found in tombs - mainly from the Jerusalem area.

For an example of a first century A.D. tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher click here.