Alternative tomb/Golgotha tradition

Debated~250 m
Modern identification
Garden Tomb · Jerusalem
Coordinates
31.7834, 35.2298

A nineteenth-century devotional alternative; most archaeological assessments do not prefer it to the Holy Sepulchre tradition.

What happened at Alternative tomb/Golgotha tradition

  1. The first three hours on the cross

    Mark 15:24-32; Matthew 27:35-44; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:18-27

    The Holy Sepulchre is the principal ancient tradition; the Garden Tomb is retained as a later alternative tradition. The Holy Sepulchre is the principal ancient tradition and is topographically plausible, but the exact crucifixion point cannot be GPS-confirmed.

  2. The three hours of darkness from noon to three p.m.

    Mark 15:33-37; Matthew 27:45-50; Luke 23:44-46; John 19:28-30

    The Holy Sepulchre is the principal ancient tradition; the Garden Tomb is retained as a later alternative tradition. The Holy Sepulchre is the principal ancient tradition and is topographically plausible, but the exact crucifixion point cannot be GPS-confirmed.

  3. The phenomena accompanying the death of Christ

    Mark 15:38-41; Matthew 27:51-56; Luke 23:45, 47-49

    The Holy Sepulchre is the principal ancient tradition; the Garden Tomb is retained as a later alternative tradition. The Holy Sepulchre is the principal ancient tradition and is topographically plausible, but the exact crucifixion point cannot be GPS-confirmed.

  4. The burial of the body of Jesus in the tomb of Joseph of arimathea after proof of his death

    Mark 15:42-46; Matthew 27:57-60; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-42

    The principal ancient tomb tradition. The coordinate locates the church complex, not a directly verified event point.

  5. The watch of the women by the tomb of Jesus

    Mark 15:47; Matthew 27:61-66; Luke 23:55-56

    The principal ancient tomb tradition. The coordinate locates the church complex, not a directly verified event point.

  6. The visit of the women to the tomb of Jesus

    Mark 16:1; Matthew 28:1

    The principal ancient tomb tradition. The coordinate locates the church complex, not a directly verified event point.

  7. The earthquake, the rolling away of the stone by an angel, and the fright of the roman watchers

    Matthew 28:2-4

    The principal ancient tomb tradition. The coordinate locates the church complex, not a directly verified event point.

  8. The visit of the women to the tomb of Jesus about sunrise sunday morning and the message of the angels about the empty tomb

    Mark 16:2-8; Matthew 28:5-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1

    The principal ancient tomb tradition. The coordinate locates the church complex, not a directly verified event point.

  9. Mary magdalene and the other women report to the apostles and Peter and John visit the empty tomb

    Luke 24:9-12; John 20:2-10

    The identity of Jerusalem is secure; the point is a modern settlement centroid rather than an event-specific building.

  10. The appearance of Jesus to Mary magdalene and the message to the disciples

    Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18

    The principal ancient tomb tradition. The coordinate locates the church complex, not a directly verified event point.

Nearby places in Jerusalem