Hebrew Explorer logo
Hebrew Explorer
The tool for deep Hebrew research into the biblical Scriptures

Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings

Elite Jerusalem tombs sealed by great round stones, like the tomb in the Gospels

Herod, Yeshua & Jerusalem's Fall · ossuary / tomb · Accepted by scholars · found 1863

Large round stone disc standing in the groove beside a tomb doorway
Photo: The Library of Congress · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

Found 1863 — Tomb of the Kings: Louis Félicien de Saulcy (1863), who thought it held Judah's kings; identified as the tomb of Queen Helena of Adiabene. Tomb of Herod's family: Conrad Schick (1892)

Where Tomb of the Kings: Nablus Road, East Jerusalem; Herod's family tomb: near the King David Hotel, west Jerusalem (Israel)

Dates from 1st century BCE–1st century CE · Early Roman · Burial of Yeshua; Herodian Jerusalem

Now at In place (Tomb of the Kings is French state property, reopened 2019); Helena's sarcophagus in the Louvre, Paris

How Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings was found

De Saulcy cleared the huge sunken courtyard and found sarcophagi, one inscribed 'Tzadan the queen' in Aramaic and Syriac, matching Josephus' Helena of Adiabene (died c. 50–56 CE). Schick found the tomb west of the Old City with a rolling stone still in place; Josephus places Herod's family monument near this spot.

What it is

The Tomb of the Kings is a monumental complex with a rock-cut staircase, a courtyard, a carved facade, and a rolling stone that once sealed a chamber system of many rooms. Herod's family tomb is a smaller ashlar-lined tomb with a well-preserved round rolling stone about 1.5 meters across. Only a handful of true rolling-stone tombs are known from this period; most tombs used square blocking stones.

Why it matters for the Bible

All four Gospels say Yeshua's tomb was closed with a stone that was rolled. These tombs show that rolling stones were used, but only by the very wealthy — consistent with Joseph of Arimathea being 'a rich man' (Matthew 27:57). Helena's tomb also illustrates a Gentile queen who converted to Judaism and, like the believers in Acts 11, sent famine relief to Jerusalem.

The Hebrew word: go-LEL

גֹּלֶל

גֹּלֶל is pronounced go-LEL and means the rolling stone that sealed a tomb (Mishnah Ohalot 2:4), from galal, to roll (Strong's H1556).

People this discovery connects to

Places

Events

Burial of Yeshua and the rolled stone · Famine relief for Jerusalem under Claudius (Acts 11:28-30)

Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings in Scripture

Matthew 27:57-60 A rich man's new tomb sealed with a great rolled stone — a rolling-stone tomb was an elite feature. (First mention of Joseph of Arimathaea.)

Mark 16:3-4 'Who will roll away the stone?' — it was very large; these tombs show how large.

Acts 11:28-29 Famine relief for Judea; Josephus says Queen Helena, buried in the Tomb of the Kings, also bought grain for the city.

Questions people ask

What is Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings?
The Tomb of the Kings is a monumental complex with a rock-cut staircase, a courtyard, a carved facade, and a rolling stone that once sealed a chamber system of many rooms. Herod's family tomb is a smaller ashlar-lined tomb with a well-preserved round rolling stone about 1.5 meters across. Only a handful of true rolling-stone tombs are known from this period; most tombs used square blocking stones.

When was Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings discovered?
It was found in 1863 by Tomb of the Kings: Louis Félicien de Saulcy (1863), who thought it held Judah's kings; identified as the tomb of Queen Helena of Adiabene. Tomb of Herod's family: Conrad Schick (1892), at Tomb of the Kings: Nablus Road, East Jerusalem; Herod's family tomb: near the King David Hotel, west Jerusalem.

Where is Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings today?
In place (Tomb of the Kings is French state property, reopened 2019); Helena's sarcophagus in the Louvre, Paris.

Which Bible verses does Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings relate to?
Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 16:3-4, Acts 11:28-29.

Related discoveries

Sources

Open Rolling-Stone Tombs: Herod's Family Tomb and the Tomb of the Kings in Hebrew Explorer →

Part of Biblical Archaeology — 533 discoveries that run alongside the biblical story · Herod, Yeshua & Jerusalem's Fall

Open Hebrew Explorer — 30+ free study tools →