This 2,000-year-old burial cave, located 30 miles from Jerusalem, was long believed to be the final resting place of a woman named Salome, who served as a midwife during the birth of Jesus. This elaborately decorated tomb was a site of Christian pilgrimage during the Byzantine era, lasting until around the 9th century.
However, new research from archaeologists at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) suggests that the cave, once thought to be linked to Jesus, may actually be the burial site of another individual—Salome, the sister of King Herod the Great.
Salome, but Not That One
Researchers believe that the monumental architecture of the cave, along with its ornate decorations, mosaics, carvings, and spacious courtyard, indicate that someone from a royal family may have been buried there in the first century B.C. This refers to a different person named Salome, a name that was quite common at the time. This individual could be the sister of King Herod the Great, according to Live Science.
According to archaeologist Vladik Lifshitz, this is one of the theories. He and his colleague Nir-Shimson Paran are co-authors of the new study, the results of which were published in the IAA journal Atiqot.
What Do We Know About Salome’s Cave?
The cave burial was linked to Salome after an ossuary (a box for bones) inscribed with her name was discovered there. Jerusalem was reclaimed from the Byzantines by the Islamic Caliphate in the 7th century, but Christian pilgrims likely continued to visit the cave until the 9th century. However, it was not definitively known who was buried in the tomb.
About 40 years ago, tomb raiders stumbled upon the cave. In 1984, archaeologists excavated it. Today, the burial site is part of a 62-mile trail of Jewish kings, an archaeological landmark connecting several historical sites.
Among the artifacts found in the cave are hundreds of clay oil lamps from the 8th to 9th centuries, which archaeologists believe were sold to Christian pilgrims to light their way through the dark cave.
The researchers also discovered the remains of several luxurious villas nearby. This suggests that the site once belonged to a very wealthy family, possibly royal.
Relative of Herod
Herod I, or Herod the Great, rose to power through his family’s influence with the Romans. He ruled Judea from around 37 to 4 B.C.
Despite his reputation as a ruthless king, he was a prolific builder, restoring the Second Temple on the Temple Mount and constructing the famous Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Herod’s sister, Salome, was a key figure at his court. However, researchers note that Herod’s granddaughter was also named Salome, and she too was an influential member of the family.
The elder Salome from the Herodian family died around 10 A.D., while the younger one passed away in the 50s or 60s A.D. Which Salome truly rests in the eponymous cave? The revelation of this mystery is yet to come.