- Address: Old City, Jerusalem, Israel.
Calvary - the mountain in Israel , where the crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place, is a Christian shrine, as well as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher . Its location is considered the outskirts of Jerusalem . The translation of this name with sounds "frontal place", and from Aramaic - "skull, head."
In ancient times this place was outside the city, but at the present time Golgotha is a part of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There are many legends connected with the mountain, so, according to one of them, on this place Adam is buried - the first person on the Earth. Historians also put forward other versions about the place where Calvary was. The justification for this is that there is an appropriate mention in the Holy Scripture. However, precise coordinates are not indicated, so the historians consider the Garden Grave possible from the end of the 19th century as the possible Golgotha. It is located in the northern part of Jerusalem at the Damascus Gate.
Golgotha (Israel) - history and description
Once Golgotha (Israel) was part of the hill Gareb, from which a little peaked. Such a landscape resembled a human skull, so the Aramaic people called the place "Golgotha". Public punishment was imposed on this place, because of which two more hill names appeared in Christianity - "Kalvarija" (Latin) and "Great Cranion" (Greek).
Calvary was the name of a large territory beyond Jerusalem. In the western part there were incredibly picturesque gardens, one of which belonged to Joseph of Aramaic. The observation deck was also attached to the hill, which served as a meeting place for the people to watch the execution of criminals.
On the other side of the mountain, a cave was dug, serving as a dungeon for the prisoners, in which they awaited the execution of the verdict. It also contained Jesus Christ, why later the cave was called "Christ's Dungeon". Under the mountain dug a deep hole, where the bodies of criminals were sent after their death and the crosses on which they were crucified.
In it was a cross on which Jesus was crucified, later Queen Helen found it. As the legend says, it remained in good condition, even nails with which to crucify Christ were left. Golgotha is famous for the fact that since ancient times, the dead were buried there. Such burial is located on the western slope and is called "The Tomb of Christ".
Scientists managed to find a crypt in the 19th century, named the Tomb of Joseph of Aramaic and Nicodemus. During the Byzantine period burials were hidden, but they uncovered the rock and made a ladder. It was necessary to climb it without shoes, bare feet overcoming 28 steps. After the conquest of the terrain by the Arabs, an attempt was made to destroy the staircase, the temple and even the mountain. But it failed, and over time the architecture of Golgotha was refined and became increasingly difficult. It was decorated with altars, various decorative ornaments.
In the modern view of Golgotha (Israel) it is an elevation of 5 m high, surrounded and illuminated by lamps and candles. On the hill there are two altars, separated by pilasters.
On Calvary there is an altar set in the era of the Crusaders. Its name is as follows - the altar of the Nails of the Holy Cross, and the throne is called the Throne of nailing to the Cross, therefore the altar and altar stand in the place where Jesus was chained to the cross. To the left is the throne belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. It was erected in the 1st century by Constantine Monomakh in a place where there was a hole from the cross of Jesus. The place itself is bordered by a silver frame. Nearby are other holes - black circles left by crosses of other robbers, crucified next to Christ.
How to get to Calvary?
There is no fee for visiting the hill. Find it is not difficult - the guide will serve as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City . Viewing two Christian shrines can be combined.