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Garden Tomb - Jerusalem

History

The Garden Tomb is located beside the Nablus Road (Derech Shchem), close to the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. after it’s discovery in 1867 and it has subsequently been considered by some Christians to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is adjacent to a rocky escarpment which some people believe to be to be Golgotha. It is also known as Skull Hill or Gordon’s Calvary. 

Golgotha is referred to in early writings as a hill resembling a skullcap located very near to a gate into Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has its tomb just a few yards away from its Golgotha, corresponding with the account of John the Evangelist: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.”

The Garden Tomb is beside the Nablus Road (Derech Shchem)
The Garden Tomb is beside the Nablus Road (Derech Shchem)
A sign on a small street (also wall of the garden) showing direction of the Garden Tomb - Jerusalem
On my first visit, this site was closed and to make it extra special I was robbed on a street next to it
On my first visit, this site was closed and to make it extra special I was robbed on a street next to it
Surprisingly, there was no ticket fee to visit this site
Trees inside the garden
Trees inside the garden
Skull can be seen on right side of this photo - Garden Tomb Jerusalem
This stone describes the crucifixion of Jesus on the hill nearby but most historians don't agree with this
This stone describes the crucifixion of Jesus on the hill nearby but most historians don't agree with this
Garden Tomb Jerusalem
Garden Tomb Jerusalem
There were lots of free seating areas in the garden where people would sit and listen to their guides
This site is under the management of the Garden Tomb Association
This site is under the management of the Garden Tomb Association

According to the Garden Tomb Association, it only maintains this place as a possible site for Christ’s burial. The tomb, which was discovered in 1867 and is especially popular with Protestants as a place of devotion. On the other hand, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, seems to have attracted Christian devotion since before Constantine the Great, thus making it more authentic. 

Here, the Crusaders lowered the rock surface in front of the tomb, built vaults against it, and used the site as stable. An ancient wine press and cistern have been cited as evidence that the area had once been a garden in the past.

A diagram of the tomb which is hewn out of a rock
Entry door of the tomb
Entrance of the tomb
Inside the tomb there are two chambers side by side
Inside the tomb there are two chambers side by side
View of the ground of the tomb inside the cave
View of the ground of the tomb inside the cave
A sign on the wall of the Garden Tomb - Jerusalem
A sign on the wall of the Garden Tomb - Jerusalem
Entry door of the tomb, seen from inside
Entry door of the tomb, seen from inside
A sign on the wooden door of the tomb says it all
A sign on the wooden door of the tomb says it all
A view of the cistern and garden with a tomb
This site was busy with the tourists even on a wet and cold day in Jerusalem
This site was busy with the tourists even on a wet and cold day in Jerusalem
Tourists standing above a wall bridge, below this lies the cistern and the tomb
Tourists standing above a wall bridge, below this lies the cistern and the tomb