קבר יאסון | |
 Entrance to Jason's Tomb | |
 Interactive map of Jason's Tomb | |
| Location | Rehavia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°46.388′N35°12.788′E / 31.773133°N 35.213133°E /31.773133; 35.213133 |
| History | |
| Material | Stone |
| Founded | 1st century BCE |
| Site notes | |
| Discovered | 1956 |
| Condition | Preserved |
| Public access | Yes |
Jason's Tomb (Hebrew:קבר יאסון,romanized: Qever Yāson) is aJewishrock-cut tomb located in theRehavia neighborhood ofJerusalem, dating to the late second or early first century BCE, during theHasmonean period. The tomb features a courtyard, a multi-chambered burial system withkokhim (niches), and a distinctive pyramid-shaped roof over its entrance. Inscriptions inGreek andAramaic referring to a person named Jason, along with decorative motifs such as a ship, provide insight into the identity and social status of the deceased.
Jason's Tomb is one of the earliest and most prominent examples of monumental Jewish tomb architecture inSecond Temple-era Jerusalem.
The tomb was discovered in 1956 and the authorities in charge of antiquities expropriated the site from its owners in order to preserve it.[1]Levi Yizhaq Rahmani excavated it and published his findings in 1967.[1]
The tomb is considered to date from the time ofAlexander Jannaeus (r. 103–76 BCE).[2] A ceramic assemblage found here was dated by one expert, Rachel Bar-Nathan, to no later than the31 BC Judea earthquake, a date not readily accepted by everyone.[3] Coins found at the site date to the first third of the first century CE.[3] The tomb was finally blocked in 30/31 CE.[3]
The building consists of a courtyard and a singleDoric column decorating the entrance to the burial chamber, topped with a reconstructed pyramid-shaped roof. Among the carved inscriptions inGreek andAramaic is one that laments the deceased Jason: "A powerful lament make for Jason, son of P... (my brother) peace ... who hast built thyself a tomb, Elder rest in peace."[4]
Another inscription states that Jason sailed to the coast of Egypt. Inside the cave are eight burial niches. To make room for additional burials the bones were later removed to the charnel space in front.[5]
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