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Secondary sourceArtifactSite identified c. 325; photograph c. 1941-1944

Tomb of Jesus (Church of the Holy Sepulchre)

Site identified c. 325; photograph c. 1941-1944

The site traditionally venerated since the 4th century as the place where Jesus was buried and, according to Christian belief, rose from the dead.

This site is venerated as Jesus's burial place, central to Christian belief in his resurrection.

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Sepia photograph of a stone interior with an icon of the Virgin Mary on the left, a stone ledge, and a marble-covered shelf holding lit candles, candlesticks, and a flower vase beneath an arched opening.
Tomb of Jesus Christ, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. Photograph, c. 1941-1944.

About this source

What it is

According to the gospels, Jesus was buried in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. Christian tradition locates this tomb inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built after Emperor Constantine's mother Helena identified the site around 325 and had a Roman temple built over it by Hadrian removed. Archaeological work has found details consistent with ancient accounts of the location.

Why it matters

The tomb is central to Christian belief, since the empty tomb was interpreted by Jesus's followers as proof of his resurrection. The church built over it reflects how Constantine and Helena shaped Christian geography and memory in the 4th century, turning a disputed ancient site into the religion's most sacred place.

Look closer

  • Why would it matter to Christians whether this exact location is authentic?
  • What role did Constantine and his mother Helena play in creating this holy site?
  • Why have other locations also been claimed as the "true" tomb of Jesus?

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