The Pilate stone is a damaged block (82 cm x 65 cm) of carved limestone with a partially intact inscription attributed to, and mentioning, Pontius Pilate, a prefect of the Roman province of Judea from AD 26 to 36. It was discovered at the archaeological site of Caesarea Maritima in 1961. The artifact is particularly significant because it is an archaeological find of an authentic 1st-century Roman inscription mentioning the name "[Pon]tius Pilatus". It is contemporary to Pilate's lifetime, and accords with what is known of his reported career.[2][3] In effect, the inscription constitutes the earliest surviving, and only contemporary, record of Pilate, who is otherwise known from the New Testament and apocryphal texts, the Jewish historian Josephus and writer Philo, and brief references by Roman historians such as Tacitus.
It is likely that Pontius Pilate made his base at Caesarea Maritima – the site where the stone was discovered, since that city had replaced Jerusalem as the administrative capital and military headquarters of the province in AD 6.[4] Pilate probably travelled to Jerusalem, the central city of the province's Jewish population, only when necessary.[5]
The Pilate stone is currently held at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.[6][7] Plaster-cast replicas can be found at the Archaeological Museum in Milan, Italy, and on display in Caesarea Maritima itself.
On the partially damaged block is a dedication to the deifiedAugustus and Livia (the Augustan gods or "Divine Augusti"), the stepfather and mother of emperor Tiberius, originally placed within a Tiberieum, probably a temple dedicated to Tiberius. It has been deemed authentic because it was discovered in the coastal town of Caesarea, which was the capital of Iudaea Province[4] during the time Pontius Pilate was Roman governor.
The partial inscription reads (conjectural letters in brackets):[3]
[DIS AUGUSTI]S TIBERIÉUM
[...PONTI]US PILATUS
[...PRAEF]ECTUS IUDA[EA]E
[...FECIT D]E[DICAVIT]
The translation from Latin to English for the inscription reads:
To the Divine Augusti [this] Tiberieum
...Pontius Pilate
...prefect of Judea
...has dedicated [this]
Discoveryedit
Pontius Pilate inscription; the original stone, now located in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem
The limestone block was discovered in June 1961 by Italian archaeologist Maria Teresa Fortuna Canivet during a campaign led by Dr. Antonio Frova while excavating in the area of an ancient theatre built by decree of Herod the Great around 22–10 BC, along with the entire city of Caesarea.
The artifact is a fragment of the dedicatory inscription of a later building, probably a temple, that was constructed, possibly in honour of the emperor Tiberius,[8][9] dating to AD 26 to 36.[10]
The stone was then reused in the 4th century as a building block for a set of stairs belonging to a structure erected behind the stage house of the Herodian theatre, and it was discovered there, still attached to the ancient staircase, by the archaeologists.[11]
Referencesedit
^"The Pilate Inscription". K.C. Hanson. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus: a re-examination of the evidence by Jonathan L. Reed 2002 ISBN1563383942 p. 18
^ abStudying the historical Jesus: evaluations of the state of current research by Bruce Chilton, Craig A. Evans 1998 ISBN9004111425 p. 465
^ abA History of the Jewish People, H.H. Ben-Sasson editor, 1976, p. 247: "When Judea was converted into a Roman province [in 6 CE, p. 246], the Romans moved the governmental residence and military headquarters from Jerusalem to Caesarea. The centre of government was thus removed from Jerusalem, and the administration became increasingly based on inhabitants of the Hellenistic cities (Sebaste, Caesarea and others).
^Historical Dictionary of Jesus by Daniel J. Harrington 2010 ISBN0810876671 p. 32
^Jerry Vardaman, A New Inscription Which Mentions Pilate as 'Prefect' , Journal of Biblical Literature Vol. 81, 1962. pp. 70–71.
^Craig A. Evans, Jesus and the ossuaries, Volume 44, Baylor University Press, 2003. pp. 45–47
^. The Israel Museum. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem 1995–2015. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^A.N. Sherwin-White, review of "A. Frova, L'iscrizione di Ponzio Pilato a Cesarea" in The Journal of Roman Studies, 54 (1964), p. 258.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pilate stone.
Wroe, Anne (April 3, 1999). "Historical Notes: Pontius Pilate: a name set in stone". The Independent.
Inscription Caes. 43 at the Inscriptions of Israel-Palestine project, Michael Satlow et al. Brown University (2019), including transcription and photographs
January 01, 1970
pilate, stone, damaged, block, carved, limestone, with, partially, intact, inscription, attributed, mentioning, pontius, pilate, prefect, roman, province, judea, from, discovered, archaeological, site, caesarea, maritima, 1961, artifact, particularly, signific. The Pilate stone is a damaged block 82 cm x 65 cm of carved limestone with a partially intact inscription attributed to and mentioning Pontius Pilate a prefect of the Roman province of Judea from AD 26 to 36 It was discovered at the archaeological site of Caesarea Maritima in 1961 The artifact is particularly significant because it is an archaeological find of an authentic 1st century Roman inscription mentioning the name Pon tius Pilatus It is contemporary to Pilate s lifetime and accords with what is known of his reported career 2 3 In effect the inscription constitutes the earliest surviving and only contemporary record of Pilate who is otherwise known from the New Testament and apocryphal texts the Jewish historian Josephus and writer Philo and brief references by Roman historians such as Tacitus Pilate stoneReplica casting on display in Caesarea Maritima 1 MaterialLimestoneHeight82 cmWidth65 cmWritingLatinCreatedAD 26 37Discovered1961Caesarea IsraelPresent locationIsrael MuseumIdentificationAE 1963 number 104 It is likely that Pontius Pilate made his base at Caesarea Maritima the site where the stone was discovered since that city had replaced Jerusalem as the administrative capital and military headquarters of the province in AD 6 4 Pilate probably travelled to Jerusalem the central city of the province s Jewish population only when necessary 5 The Pilate stone is currently held at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem 6 7 Plaster cast replicas can be found at the Archaeological Museum in Milan Italy and on display in Caesarea Maritima itself Contents 1 Inscription 2 Discovery 3 References 4 External linksInscription editOn the partially damaged block is a dedication to the deified Augustus and Livia the Augustan gods or Divine Augusti the stepfather and mother of emperor Tiberius originally placed within a Tiberieum probably a temple dedicated to Tiberius It has been deemed authentic because it was discovered in the coastal town of Caesarea which was the capital of Iudaea Province 4 during the time Pontius Pilate was Roman governor The partial inscription reads conjectural letters in brackets 3 DIS AUGUSTI S TIBERIEUM PONTI US PILATUS PRAEF ECTUS IUDA EA E FECIT D E DICAVIT The translation from Latin to English for the inscription reads To the Divine Augusti this Tiberieum Pontius Pilate prefect of Judea has dedicated this Discovery edit nbsp Pontius Pilate inscription the original stone now located in the Israel Museum Jerusalem The limestone block was discovered in June 1961 by Italian archaeologist Maria Teresa Fortuna Canivet during a campaign led by Dr Antonio Frova while excavating in the area of an ancient theatre built by decree of Herod the Great around 22 10 BC along with the entire city of Caesarea The artifact is a fragment of the dedicatory inscription of a later building probably a temple that was constructed possibly in honour of the emperor Tiberius 8 9 dating to AD 26 to 36 10 The stone was then reused in the 4th century as a building block for a set of stairs belonging to a structure erected behind the stage house of the Herodian theatre and it was discovered there still attached to the ancient staircase by the archaeologists 11 References edit The Pilate Inscription K C Hanson 10 August 2015 Retrieved 11 April 2017 Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus a re examination of the evidence by Jonathan L Reed 2002 ISBN 1563383942 p 18 a b Studying the historical Jesus evaluations of the state of current research by Bruce Chilton Craig A Evans 1998 ISBN 9004111425 p 465 a b A History of the Jewish People H H Ben Sasson editor 1976 p 247 When Judea was converted into a Roman province in 6 CE p 246 the Romans moved the governmental residence and military headquarters from Jerusalem to Caesarea The centre of government was thus removed from Jerusalem and the administration became increasingly based on inhabitants of the Hellenistic cities Sebaste Caesarea and others Historical Dictionary of Jesus by Daniel J Harrington 2010 ISBN 0810876671 p 32 Jerry Vardaman A New Inscription Which Mentions Pilate as Prefect Journal of Biblical Literature Vol 81 1962 pp 70 71 Craig A Evans Jesus and the ossuaries Volume 44 Baylor University Press 2003 pp 45 47 Tacitus Annals 15 44 Josephus Flavius 63 18 89 Translated by Whiston William Lexundria com Retrieved 11 April 2017 before he could get to Rome Tiberius was dead a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Pontius Pilate Prefect of Judah Latin dedicatory inscription The Israel Museum The Israel Museum Jerusalem 1995 2015 Archived from the original on 7 November 2018 Retrieved 11 April 2017 A N Sherwin White review of A Frova L iscrizione di Ponzio Pilato a Cesarea in The Journal of Roman Studies 54 1964 p 258 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pilate stone Wroe Anne April 3 1999 Historical Notes Pontius Pilate a name set in stone The Independent Inscription Caes 43 at the Inscriptions of Israel Palestine project Michael Satlow et al Brown University 2019 including transcription and photographs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pilate stone amp oldid 1211877134, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
