The last stone of the master: the ossuary of Simon, the builder of the Temple

Discover the secrets of the past through the ossuary of Simon, the builder of the Temple, dating from the 1st century C.E. This stone ossuary, found in Giv'at Hamivtar, Jerusalem, tells the story of the thousands of workers who took part in the grand construction of Herod's Temple. Simon's simple but exquisite ossuary, with its Aramaic inscriptions, suggests his skill and importance in the family. What did he contribute to this magnificent building? Explore this fascinating story and learn more about the life and legacy of this remarkable craftsman.

The stone ossuary of Simon, the builder of the Temple

Giv’at Hamivtar, Jerusalem

1st century AD.

Limestone

Herod hired ten thousand workers to build the Temple, including a thousand priests. Simon was one of them. His ossuary (burial chest) is simple and unadorned, but the Aramaic inscriptions on it were carefully made by a legible hand, once on the long side and once on the short side. It can be assumed that Simon was a skilled craftsman whose contribution to the construction of the Temple earned him the title – at least in the eyes of his family – of “builder of the Temple.”

Picture of Oleg Margolin

Oleg Margolin

AUTHOR'S STATEMENTS

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