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Gabbatha (Jewish Palestinian Aramaic:גבתא) is the name of a place inJerusalem that is also referred to by the Greek name ofLithostrōtos (Greekλιθόστρωτος). It is recorded in the gospels to be the place of the trial ofJesus before hiscrucifixionc. 30/33AD. The site of theChurch of Ecce Homo is traditionally thought to be its location, but archaeological investigation has proven this unlikely.Herod's Palace is a more likely location.
Lithostrōtos (lit. 'stone pavement', fromlithos ‘stone’ andstrōtosστρωτός ‘covered’)[1] occurs in theBible only once, in John 19:13.[2][3] It states thatPontius Pilate "broughtJesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha."
The name "Gabbatha" is an Aramaic word (not Hebrew, despite John), Aramaic being the language commonly spoken at the time inJudea. It is not a mere translation ofLithostrotos, which properly means the tessellated or mosaic pavement where the judgment seat stood, but which was extended to the place itself in front of Pilate'spraetorium, where that pavement was laid. This was proved by the practice of St. John, who elsewhere gives Aramaic names as distinctly belonging to places, not as mere translations of the Greek. This is proved also becauseGabbatha is derived from a root meaning 'back' or 'elevation' – which refers not to the kind of pavement but to the elevation of the place in question. It thus appears that the two names "Lithostrotos" and "Gabbatha" were due to different characteristics of the spot where Pilate condemned Jesus to death. The Aramaic name was derived from the configuration of that spot, with the Greek name derived from the nature of its pavement.[citation needed]
Commentators have made efforts to identify Gabbatha either with the outer court of the Temple, which is known to have been paved, or with the meeting-place of the GreatSanhedrin, which was half within, half without that Temple's outer court, or again with the ridge at the back of the House of the Lord; but these efforts cannot be considered as successful.[citation needed]
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Archaeological studies have confirmed that the Roman pavement at these two traditional stations[clarification needed] was built byHadrian in the 2nd century AD as the flooring of the easternforum ofAelia Capitolina.[5] Before Hadrian's changes, the area had been a large open-air pool of water, theStruthion Pool mentioned byJosephus.[5] The pool still survives undervaulting added by Hadrian so that the forum could be built over it, and can be accessed from the portion of Roman paving under theConvent of the Sisters of Zion, and from theWestern Wall Tunnel.
A triple-arched gate built by Hadrian as an entrance to the eastern forum of Aelia Capitolina was traditionally, but asarchaeological investigation shows, mistakenly,[6] said to have been part of the gate of Herod'sAntonia Fortress. This was alleged to be the location of Jesus' trial and Pilate'secce homo speech.
According toPierre Benoit, Pilate carried out his judgements atHerod's Palace at the west side of the city, rather than at Antonia in the city's eastern area and the Temple's northwest corner.[5]Shimon Gibson supports this view.
Lithostrotos […], the stone pavement, or the pavement made with a variety of stones; fromlithos, a stone, andstrotos, a strewn place or pavement
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainCatholic Encyclopedia.
