Pilate Stone
Latin dedication naming 'Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea'
Found 1961 — Italian expedition led by Antonio Frova
Where Roman theater, Caesarea Maritima (Israel)
Dates from 26–36 CE · Early Roman · Ministry and crucifixion of Yeshua
Now at Israel Museum, Jerusalem (replica in the theater at Caesarea)
Names a biblical person Pontius Pilate, Tiberius (Tiberius via 'Tiberieum')
How Pilate Stone was found
Found reused face-down as a step in a 4th-century repair of the Roman theater at Caesarea. The block had been cut down, so the left side of each line is lost.
What it is
A limestone block about 82 by 65 cm with four lines of Latin. The surviving text reads '[…]S TIBERIÉVM / [PON]TIVS PILATVS / [PRAEF]ECTVS IVDA[EA]E', recording that Pilate dedicated a building called a Tiberieum in honor of the emperor Tiberius.
Why it matters for the Bible
This is the only inscription from Pilate's own lifetime naming him, and it gives his exact title, 'prefect' (praefectus), settling a long debate — later writers like Tacitus called him procurator. It confirms that the man who sentenced Yeshua was a real Roman official governing Judea from Caesarea.
The Hebrew word: heg-MON
הֶגְמוֹן
הֶגְמוֹן is pronounced heg-MON and means governor (Greek hegemon, the Gospels' word for Pilate) (Strong's G2232).
People this discovery connects to
- Pontius Pilate — פּוֹנְטְיוּס פִּילָטוּס (PON-tyus pee-LAH-tus) — Latin Pontius Pilatus; Greek Pilatos (G4091)
Places
- Caesarea — קֵיסָרְיָה (Kay-sar-YAH) — city of Caesar
Events
Trial of Yeshua before Pilate · Pilate's governorship of Judea (26–36 CE)
Pilate Stone in Scripture
Matthew 27:2 Yeshua is handed over to 'Pilate the governor'. (First mention of Pilate.)
Luke 3:1 Luke dates John's ministry by 'Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea'; the stone confirms both name and office.
John 19:19-22 Pilate writes the title on the cross in Hebrew, Latin and Greek — the same official who set up this Latin dedication.
Questions people ask
What is Pilate Stone?
A limestone block about 82 by 65 cm with four lines of Latin. The surviving text reads '[…]S TIBERIÉVM / [PON]TIVS PILATVS / [PRAEF]ECTVS IVDA[EA]E', recording that Pilate dedicated a building called a Tiberieum in honor of the emperor Tiberius.
When was Pilate Stone discovered?
It was found in 1961 by Italian expedition led by Antonio Frova, at Roman theater, Caesarea Maritima.
Where is Pilate Stone today?
Israel Museum, Jerusalem (replica in the theater at Caesarea).
Which Bible verses does Pilate Stone relate to?
Matthew 27:2, Luke 3:1, John 19:19-22.
Related discoveries
- עָלָהPilgrimage Road (Stepped Street)The 600-meter stepped street from the Pool of Siloam up to the Temple Mount, built under Pilate
- בֵּית הַמִּשְׁפָּטHerod's Jerusalem Palace and the Kishle ExcavationThe western-hill palace that most scholars now identify as Pilate's praetorium
- מַטְבֵּעַCoins of Pontius PilateSmall bronzes with Roman priestly symbols, minted in Jerusalem under Pilate in 29–31 CE
- טַבַּעַתThe 'Pilate' Ring from HerodiumCopper-alloy ring reading 'of Pilatus' in Greek, found 1968–69 and read in 2018
- גַּבְּתָאAntonia Fortress and the Lithostrotos PavementHerod's fortress beside the Temple and the stone pavement long shown as the place of Yeshua's trial
- קֵיסָרCaesarea MaritimaHerod's harbor city, seat of the Roman governors and home of Cornelius and Philip
Sources
- Frova, 'L'iscrizione di Ponzio Pilato a Cesarea', Rendiconti dell'Istituto Lombardo 95 (1961)
- Wikipedia: Pilate stone
- Madain Project: Pilate Inscription Stone