Pilate Stone

Limestone dedication naming Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.

Date

c. 26–36 CE

Culture

Roman

Material

Limestone

Dimensions

82 cm x 65 cm

Found at

Caesarea Maritima, Israel

Held by

Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Discovered by

Antonio Frova (1961)

inscriptionromanpilatepassion

Description

A partially damaged limestone block reused in the theater at Caesarea Maritima, originally set in a Tiberieum (a building dedicated to Tiberius). The Latin inscription reads: "[Pon]tius Pilatus, [Praef]ectus Iuda[ea]e".

Biblical significance

The Pilate Stone is the only known archaeological artifact bearing the name of Pontius Pilate, confirming both his historicity and — importantly — his official title as prefect (not procurator), matching the Gospel accounts.

From the same era

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