Calvary
A place in the Bible
The place where Jesus was crucified, very close to the city of Jerusalem. In Hebrew it was called Golgotha, “Place of the Skull.”
What happened here
- The cross: Jesus went out carrying his cross to Calvary. There they crucified him, with two others, one on each side.
- The tomb: in the place where he was crucified there was a garden with a new tomb. Because it was close by, they laid Jesus there.
Today
According to a very ancient tradition, Calvary and the tomb of Jesus are inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem.
Where it appears in the Bible
John 19:20; Matthew 27:33; John 19:17-18; John 19:41-42
What the Bible says
John 19:20
This title therefore many of the Jews did read: because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.
Matthew 27:33
And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.
John 19:17-18
17And bearing his own cross, he went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha. 18Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Holy Sepulchre”; Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), “Calvary”; Custody of the Holy Land, “Holy Sepulchre”