“Powerful lament make for Jason.” That’s part of an inscription found here at Jason’s Tomb. This tomb dates back to the first century BCE. It is a Jewish rock-cut tomb. We are in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel.
Jason’s Tomb was discovered in 1956. Authorities then took over the site to preserve it. Levi Yizhaq Rahmani excavated it. He published his findings in 1967.
The tomb is believed to be from Alexander Jannaeus’s time. He reigned from 103 to 76 BCE. One expert dated pottery found here to no later than the 31 BCE Judea earthquake. Not everyone agrees with this date. Coins at the site date to the first third of the first century CE. The tomb was finally blocked in 30 or 31 CE.
The tomb has a courtyard. A single Doric column decorates the entrance. The burial chamber has a reconstructed pyramid-shaped roof. Carved inscriptions are in Greek and Aramaic. One laments the deceased Jason. It says to make a powerful lament for Jason. It mentions Jason built himself a tomb. It wishes him elder rest in peace.
Another inscription says Jason sailed to the coast of Egypt. Inside the cave are eight burial niches. Bones were later moved to a charnel space. This made room for more burials.
Charcoal drawings of ships were on the walls. There were Greek and Aramaic inscriptions too. Some are still barely visible today.
Jason’s Tomb shows how Jerusalem’s elite imitated new tomb styles. Simon introduced this style. It was inspired by the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Jason’s Tomb is described as the earliest surviving display tomb in Jerusalem at that time.
It was the tomb of a high priestly family. This family was forced out of Jerusalem in 172 B.C. Their rival, Menelaus, forced them out. Jason’s Tomb was constructed in the second century B.C. It was in use until about A.D. 30. That’s about the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Notice the architecture. It has parallels with Alexandrian tombs. It shares elements with older tombs from Deir el-Medina in Egypt. When you are in the neighborhood, check out Jason’s Tomb. It is one of the city’s hidden historical treasures.