First Century Tombs

View of two of the niches (kokhim) of a first century A.D. tomb, into which bodies were placed. The entrances were then sealed.

This tomb is entered via the Syrian Chapel which is located just west of the rotunda where the tomb of Christ is located. It is sometimes called the "Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea." The tradition is that Joseph of Arimathea was buried here after he had given his original tomb for Jesus to be buried in (see, for example, John 19:38-42). For an additional example of a typical tomb from the first century A.D. - from the Mt. of Olives - click here.