The Garden Tomb

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy streets outside the Old City’s Damascus Gate, is the tranquil oasis of the Garden Tomb. During the 19th century, a movement developed around the idea that the Holy Sepulchre was not the sight of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Some Protestant scholars argued that the location is actually what is known today as the Garden Tomb. Although the theory was not widely adopted in the Christian community, the Garden Tomb has become a popular pilgrimage destination for some Evangelical and Protestant denominations, who consider it to be the true site of the tomb of Jesus. In 1842, German scholar, Otto Thenius, identified a rocky hill outside Damascus Gate, resembling a skull, as a possible site of Golgotha, the Biblical name given to the hill on which Jesus was crucified. The word Golgotha is believed to be derived from Aramaic, meaning “the place of the skull.” The theory was given more weight with the later discovery of a man-made tomb carved into the rock. However, it wasn’t until the 1880s that the theory started to take hold, with British Major General Charles Gordon as the main proponent. Because of his advocacy, the site was purchased in 1894 by the Garden Tomb Association, a non-denominational charitable trust based in the United Kingdom and established as the Garden Tomb the possible site of Jesus’ burial. Since this time, the site has been maintained by the trust as a Protestant place of worship. Today, the Garden Tomb offers a peaceful place for prayer and contemplation. The pathways are surrounded by olive trees and flower beds and lined with benches to sit and take in the surroundings. At the site of the rock cliff which was believed to be skull hill, one can try to make out the features, although they have been greatly eroded over time. Other interesting archaeological artifacts include an ancient wine press, probably from the Roman era, and an ancient cistern. At the center of the site is the burial cave believed to be that of Jesus. The cave has two chambers lined with stone benches. Challenging the authenticity of the claim that this could be the site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection, some archaeologists have dated the tomb to between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE. Despite this, the Garden Tomb continues to be a popular destination for both tourists and pilgrims. The site is open every day, with the exception of Sunday and entrance is free. Visitors can enjoy the calm atmosphere and facilities, including a gift shop offering souvenirs to take home as mementos of time spent in the Holy Land.