Not all Christians believe that Jesus was crucified and buried on the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Some believe instead that the Garden Tomb, a peaceful site outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, once set the scene for one of the most pivotal moments in history.
The Garden Tomb is believed by some to be the garden and tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man who donated his own grave for the body of Jesus. It is said in the Gospels of Nicodemus that Joseph requested permission from Pontius Pilate to remove the body of Jesus from the cross and prepare him for burial. Pilate acquiesced, and swathing the body of Christ in linen, Joseph interred the body in the sepulcher that he had built for himself.
Later, he reported to Jewish elders that had had witnessed a miraculous resurrection.
British General Charles Gordon called attention to the Garden Tomb while stationed in Jerusalem in 1883. What initially drew his attention to the site was the skull-like formation of the rocks—Golgotha, the hill whereupon the crucifixion took place, is described as resembling a skull. Residing nearby are a garden and ancient tombs which fit the description of Christ’s tomb as it is recorded in the New Testament.
The main argument against the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as an authentic site is the fact that it is situated within the city limits of Jerusalem. It is against Jewish custom to bury the dead within the city walls. Moreover, the Romans would not have performed a crucifixion within city limits either. In contrast, the newly discovered Skull Hill, being near the Old City of Jerusalem but still outside it, would have been an ideal location for executions.
Many tales have attached to Joseph of Arimathea, some of which connect him—and with him, Christianity—to the earliest myths of Britain. According to one legend, Joseph was appointed keeper of the Holy Grail, which would someday inspire the knights of King Arthur. This is but one of the many legends which float about Joseph of Arimathea in myth and in Christian tradition.
Later, he reported to Jewish elders that had had witnessed a miraculous resurrection.
British General Charles Gordon called attention to the Garden Tomb while stationed in Jerusalem in 1883. What initially drew his attention to the site was the skull-like formation of the rocks—Golgotha, the hill whereupon the crucifixion took place, is described as resembling a skull. Residing nearby are a garden and ancient tombs which fit the description of Christ’s tomb as it is recorded in the New Testament.
The main argument against the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as an authentic site is the fact that it is situated within the city limits of Jerusalem. It is against Jewish custom to bury the dead within the city walls. Moreover, the Romans would not have performed a crucifixion within city limits either. In contrast, the newly discovered Skull Hill, being near the Old City of Jerusalem but still outside it, would have been an ideal location for executions.
Many tales have attached to Joseph of Arimathea, some of which connect him—and with him, Christianity—to the earliest myths of Britain. According to one legend, Joseph was appointed keeper of the Holy Grail, which would someday inspire the knights of King Arthur. This is but one of the many legends which float about Joseph of Arimathea in myth and in Christian tradition.
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