An elaborate ossuary discovered in the Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, decorated on its façade with four columns topped with Ionic capita

barcode

74260

Site item id

19747

Collection name
Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Item period
Early Roman
Exhibition location

Israel Museum

An elaborate ossuary discovered in a burial cave in the Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, decorated on its façade with four columns topped with Ionic capitals.

Inscribed on the ossuary in Greek are the names of four, five, or possibly six individuals, though their family relationships are unclear. The leftmost name, Salo (ΣΑΛΩ), corresponds to the Hebrew name Shalom—a common female name at the time. Below this, the name Maria is carved in Greek. On the right appears the name Joseph from Korasion (Κορασίον), referring to a settlement in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

The names Eliezer and Joseph (in Greek) are inscribed in the center, and it is possible they were the twin sons of Salo and Joseph from Korasion, though this cannot be stated with certainty. Within the ossuary itself, only the bones of two adults were found.

The inscriptions were filled with reddish pigment.
Early Roman period.