Researchers from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) are closing in on the discovery of the room where the Last Supper took place over 2,000 years ago. It is believed to be located in a two-story building on Mount Zion, in the historic center of Jerusalem. However, the search is still ongoing.
The story of the Last Supper—Jesus’ final meal with his apostles before the crucifixion—is one of the most iconic narratives in the Bible. For centuries, the location of the room, famously depicted in Leonardo da Vinci’s artwork, has puzzled scholars.
Now, archaeologists from the IAA have stated that the biblical gathering occurred in an upper room of a two-story building with limestone walls and a red sloped roof. This structure still stands in the city, as reported by the Daily Mail.
What We Know About the Legendary Room
This site has been documented in several works of art dating back to at least the 4th century AD. It was during this time that Christians began visiting the room to honor the final moments of Christ before his crucifixion.
Initially, the room, also known as the upper room, served as a prayer space that could accommodate over 120 people. This space is briefly described in the Gospel of Luke 22:11-13. According to this account, Jesus requested a large, furnished upper room where he and his disciples could celebrate the Passover meal.
The upper room is located in the Old City of Jerusalem on Mount Zion, above the southern gate. The room features large columns supporting a vaulted ceiling and a sloped red roof (which has survived to this day). Unfortunately, researchers have not yet been able to conduct any archaeological excavations here, making it difficult to confirm whether this building was indeed used for the Last Supper.
The History of the Search
In 1884, Greek Orthodox Christians discovered the oldest map of Jerusalem while constructing a new church in Madaba, Jordan. Created in 560 AD, this map depicted the Holy Land. It marked the main street—Cardo Maximus—running through the central area, as well as two sacred structures located at the southern end, identifiable by their red roofs. All landmarks were labeled in Greek, including the Damascus and Jaffa gates, as well as Bethlehem.
However, it wasn’t until 2017 that David Christian Clausen, an adjunct lecturer in religious studies at the University of North Carolina (USA), matched one of the houses on the map with a building still standing at that location. The structures appeared identical to the scholar, at least in that both had red sloped roofs.
This led Clausen and other researchers to believe that the Last Supper took place in the upper room of this building. But the scientists needed further evidence. They found it in a 6th-century drawing discovered in Italy in 1846, which depicted Jesus entering the city through the southern gate on a donkey. In the background, the artist illustrated the Last Supper.
6th-century drawing from a manuscript of the Gospel
Since 2019, IAA archaeologists have repeatedly tested this theory. To eliminate all changes that have occurred in the upper room over the years, scientists employed laser technology and advanced photographic methods. This allowed them to visualize what the room might have looked like during the time of the Last Supper.
“I felt like I had stepped into a Dan Brown novel, ‘The Da Vinci Code,'” said Amit Re’em, an archaeologist with the IAA. “We needed to decipher ancient symbols.”
Re’em’s team mapped every corner of the room to “create an accurate model of the space” and noted intriguing features within the room. Among the images discovered, researchers saw symbols of Agnus Dei, or “Lamb of God,” and the Lion of Judah, gazing down at them from the ceiling. “The lion was a symbol of King David,” Re’em explained. He also noted that according to ancient scriptures, “Jesus was a descendant of King David.”
The scientist reported that further research awaits the scholars. As of now, there is no archaeological evidence confirming that this room was indeed the site of the Last Supper.
Meanwhile, the IAA has repeatedly stated that poor lighting, faded walls, and frequent renovations have hindered archaeologists from studying the upper room.