Tombs of the Prophets, Jerusalem
The Tombs of the Prophets is a site on the Mount of Olives that a medieval Jewish tradition identifies as the tombs of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who lived in the 6th-5th centuries BC. Both Jews and Christians venerate the site as the tombs of these prophets of the last three books of the Old Testament.
However, this cannot be so, since the tombs are kokhim shafts, which came into use only in the 1st century BC. The "Tombs of the Prophets" are actually a catacomb that was part of the pre-135 AD Jewish cemetery. Inscriptions above the burial places show that the tombs were used for the burial of foreign Christians in the 4th and 5th centuries AD.
The catacomb has an unusual plan, with a central circular chamber and radiating fan-shaped corridors leading to the burial places (kokhim).
A little higher up from the tombs on the right is a terrace that provides an excellent view of Jerusalem, extending over the Temple Mount and the Old City to the high-rise blocks of West Jerusalem.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Tombs of the Prophets on the Mount of Olives. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of Jerusalem from space on our much larger Jerusalem Satellite Map.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Tombs of the Prophets; Tombs of the Prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi |
| Type of site: | Ancient tomb; Jewish and Christian sacred site; biblical site |
| Dates: | Tombs hewn by Jews 1st century BC; used by Christians 4th/5th centuries AD |
| Location: | Mount of Olives, SE Jerusalem, Israel |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 9-3:30 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Tip: | Bring a flashlight. |
Sources
- Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, Oxford Archaeological Guides: The Holy Land (Oxford, 1998), 126.
- Kay Prag, Blue Guide to Israel and the Palestinian Territories (Black and Norton, 2002), 232.
