GOLGOTHA, PLACE OF AN UNUSUAL VICTORY

This name, which designates the place where Jesus was crucified, appears only in three texts: Mt 27:33 (they arrived at a place named G.), Mk 15:22 (they thus lead him to G.) and John 19:17 (Jesus, carrying the cross himself, came to the place called Skull, in Hebrew G.). Matthew and Mark also both explain that G. means: Place of the Skull. Luke dispenses with the word Semitic and simply says, "When they had arrived at the place called Skull" (Luke 23:33). Golgotha derives, in fact, from the Aramaic, goulgolta or golgolta, corresponding to the Hebrew goulgôlet = skull, head; the Vulg, translated Calvaria, hence the name of Calvary given instead of the torture of Jesus. According to the 4th Gospel, only Jesus was buried in the immediate vicinity of the location of the cross, so also in the vicinity of Golgotha.

Why this name? Different explanations have been proposed. This was, it was said, the place of execution of criminals: skulls usually dragged there. To which it must be answered that the Jews would not have tolerated such impurity and that Joseph of Arimathea, advisor of distinction, would not have owned a garden near this macabre place. The name Golgotha is best explained by the legend that Adam's skull was buried there; but this tradition, which would be of Jewish origin, is probably after the death of Jesus: the writings of the N.T. do not speak of it any more than the ancient Jewish authors; and how would Pilate have dared to carry out a triple execution at this place necessarily respected by the Jews? It is therefore rather likely that the Golgotha region owes its name quite simply to the shape of the terrain: there was not so much a prominent summit as a protrusion detached, in promontory, from the main hill; well featured on the ramp, this jump of land vaguely recalled, by its lines,  a head or skull (cf. the Arabic word râs = the head, the promontory).

But more important is the question of where this place was. The N.T., which assumes it to be known, does not provide much detail on this subject. It follows from the texts that the place where Jesus died is undoubtedly outside, but near the city (Mt 28:11, Jn 19:17,20, cf. Heb 13:12, Mk 12:8 and parallel), and that nearby passes a path frequented (Mk 15:29, Mt 27:39, Jn 19:20). The tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, moreover, could not be in the city; and the executions, according to Jewish and Roman usage, were carried out outside the walls, but preferably around the gates, so that many would witness them.

In accordance with these indications, Christian tradition, early in the past, located Golgotha north of ancient Jerusalem, on the spot where the famous sanctuary of the Holy Sepulchre stands even today, one of the chapels of which would protect the very rock of Calvary. The origin of this building goes back to Constantine himself who, in 326, demolished the pagan temple erected in this place and replaced it with a magnificent basilica to the glory of the Crucified. Eusebius of Caesarea recounts, in his life of Constantine (III, 25-40), how was discovered, in an unexpected way, "the cave of salvation", and suggests that it was not unknown at that time where Golgotha was located, whose well-known name had not been forgotten. It is possible to think that the Christian community, for its part, had kept the memory of such an important location in the history of its Master. The shape of the tomb unearthed by Constantine, and which is still today the main relic of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, would correspond, moreover, to the biblical indications.

A serious objection was made, however, to the traditional location: the enclosure of Jerusalem that existed at the time of Christ stood, it is said, north of Golgotha admitted as authentic and, therefore, encompassed it in its walls; Since Jesus was crucified outside the city, the true Calvary must be sought elsewhere. And various locations have been proposed, among which the most worthy of attention is that of the so-called tomb of Gordon (fig. 99) and the hill under which it is located, north of the current damascus gate; it has many famous supporters. This problem has given rise to fierce controversy. It is very difficult, in fact, to establish in detail the route of the wall that went from the Antonia fortress to Herod's palace. As long as it is not proven that the contemporary wall of Christ was north of the current Holy Sepulchre, it will be better to consider, more or less, the traditional location as historical.

"If there is no decisive reason to place Golgotha in the precise place where since Constantine the whole of Christendom has venerated it, there is also no major objection that obliges to disturb Christian memories in this regard." (Renan.)

Various legends naturally gravitate around this sacred location. The most famous and oldest claims that Adam is buried there; or at least his skull, as will be said later. Hence the presence of a skull at the foot of more than one figuration of the cross: "The doctor," said Augustine, "was raised where the sick man lay." This tradition has been reinforced by various developments and as early as 626 a chapel of Adam is placed in the sanctuary of the Holy Sepulchre. Another legend claims that Golgotha is at the center of the world. It was there, adds yet another, that Abraham wanted to sacrifice his only son and that Melchizedek officiated. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre offers, among other things, to the veneration of pilgrims the altar of Melchizedek [and the chapel of the sacrifice of Abraham.

As for Calvary proper, it was already included in the Basilica of Constantine and it is, even today, one of the most visited places in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. On the rock, which is accessed by a staircase, there is an opening, set with silver, where the cross would have been planted. Further south is the famous crack in the rock that would have opened at the death of Jesus and that would extend to the center of the earth.

 

See A. Westphal, J.N. after Tim., II, pp. 80-196; Dalman, Itin., ch. XXI

 

Prof. Jimi ZACKA, PhD

Professor of NT