Ossuary of Caiaphas

Ornately carved limestone bone-box inscribed "Joseph son of Caiaphas".

Date

c. 15–63 CE

Culture

Jewish

Material

Limestone

Dimensions

37 cm x 74 cm

Found at

Peace Forest, Jerusalem

Held by

Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Discovered by

Zvi Greenhut (1990)

ossuaryburialcaiaphaspassion

Description

An elaborately decorated 1st-century CE ossuary discovered in a burial cave in the Peace Forest south of Jerusalem, inscribed twice with the name "Yehosef bar Qafa" — Joseph son of Caiaphas.

Biblical significance

Widely identified with the high priest Caiaphas who presided at Jesus' trial (Matthew 26:57-68; John 18:13-24), this ossuary provides tangible connection to one of the central figures of the Passion narrative.

From the same era

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