The place name “Golgotha” comes from the Hebrew word “gulgoleth” which means “skull.” It is referred to in the New Testament gospels as the site where Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, John 19:17). The name likely originated from the shape and appearance of the hill itself, which resembled a skull. There are a few key reasons why Golgotha was known as the “place of the skull”:
1. The topography of the hill
The most commonly accepted explanation is that the hill known as Golgotha had a skull-like shape or formation. The Gospels specify it was a hill or rocky knoll just outside the walls of Jerusalem (John 19:20). In the time of Jesus, the hill would have stood out as a prominent landmark due to its distinct shape and features. With little vegetation and rocky crags, it may have resembled the features of a human skull. This seems to be the most plausible origin for the name “place of the skull.” Just as other hills and mountains often derive their names from shapes and appearances, Golgotha was likely named for its skull-like topography.
2. Association with death
Skulls represent death in many cultures, so the name Golgotha may have developed from its long association with executions and burials. As a hill just outside Jerusalem’s walls, Golgotha was a convenient location for the Romans to perform crucifixions. Jewish law prohibited executions within city limits, so this spot outside the walls was used for state-sanctioned killings (John 19:20). The name “place of the skull” resonated with its grim reputation as a place of death. Skulls were a common motif symbolic of death. The presence of decaying corpses and skulls in the vicinity of Golgotha could have reinforced the name’s connection to death.
3. Pre-existing tombs in the area
It is possible that the area already contained old graves and tombs dating from the First Temple period. The proximity to tombs and burial grounds may have influenced the name. Jewish tombs at the time often contained ossuaries where the skulls and bones of the deceased were stored after the body had decayed. If Golgotha was near these tombs filled with skulls, it could have naturally been termed the “place of the skull” for this reason. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem is built upon an ancient tomb thought to be the possible site of Golgotha.
4. Appearance of unearthed skulls
Building upon the association with tombs and burial grounds, the name may have developed from the physical appearance of skulls and bones unearthed on the hill. In biblical times, Jewish burial practices often included cave burials and ossuaries. With erosion and shifting sediments over time, it is not difficult to imagine skulls becoming upturned and visible in the area. The prevalence of these skulls emerging from the ground could have led to the name “place of the skull.” The visibility of death at the location reinforced its status as a site associated with executions.
5. Oral tradition and skulls on display
Local oral tradition may have contributed to the name, with skulls prominently displayed in the vicinity. After executions, skulls and bones were often left on display as a warning and deterrent to others. Crosses and decaying bodies would also be left standing at the site. It’s possible the name Golgotha emerged from the community’s collective memory of seeing skulls and remains strewn about the hill. Generations would pass on this grim oral tradition.“Place of the skull” may have developed as locals described seeing skulls visible on parts of the hill.
6. Archaeological support
Some archaeological evidence validates the ancient reputation of the site as a place of burial and execution. When excavating the area around Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the late 19th century, archaeologists discovered an ancient Jewish tomb and remnants of a stone wall thought to be part of the city’s outer fortifications dating to the time of Jesus. These kinds of finds lend credence to the long-standing identification of the church’s location with Golgotha. While not definitive, the archaeological record does not contradict the biblical and historical sources pointing to this area as an ancient place of burial and execution.
7. extrabiblical references to the location
In addition to the Gospel accounts, the location and name of Golgotha find early corroboration in extrabiblical texts as well. In the literature of Josephus, the Christian apocrypha, and rabbinic writings, there are a number of references to the region of Golgotha in connection with burials and executions. For example, the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus identifies the site of Adam’s burial as Golgotha. This corroborates the Aramaic word connection between “Golgotha” and “skulls.” The collective memory preserved in these diverse texts bolsters Golgotha as an infamous place of death from antiquity.
8. Theological significance
While the topographical and archaeological evidence help to explain the origin of the name, the theological significance of “place of the skull” also points to spiritual meaning for the gospel writers. The “skull” imagery connects Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross with Adam’s death as a consequence of sin. The crucifixion site encapsulates both death and salvation, sin and redemption. For the Gospel authors, Golgotha as the “place of the skull” supplied a symbolic backdrop layered with theological implications. The name selection seems intentional to couch Jesus’ crucifixion in redemptive terms.
9. Emphasis on Jesus’ suffering and humiliation
Naming the crucifixion site “place of the skull” served to emphasize the intensity of Jesus’ suffering and humiliation. As an agonizing method of execution, victims of crucifixion were subjected to excruciating pain and stripped of clothing. Golgotha represented the apex of Jesus’ physical suffering. The skull imagery evoked a lurid mental picture of Calvary in readers’ minds. Referring to the site as a “place of the skull” underscored the horrific nature of Christ’s passion.
In summary, the identification of Calvary as Golgotha or “place of the skull” stems from a few key factors: the unique skull-like topography of the hill itself, the locale’s long history of executions and burials, the visible presence of skulls and bones unearthed over time, archaeological evidence of ancient tombs, and the both lurid and symbolically rich imagery the name conjured for gospel writers describing Christ’s crucifixion. The convergence of these influences seems to explain why the biblical authors intentionally selected the name Golgotha or “place of the skull” to identify the precise spot outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.
10. Relationship to modern place names
While the exact location of Golgotha remains uncertain, its traditional site is encompassed within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The origins of this sacred spot trace back to Constantine the Great’s construction of the church in 335 AD on the site believed to contain both Golgotha and Christ’s empty tomb. The name Golgotha corresponds to the modern Arabic phrase “Khirbet el Garaba” used today to describe Calvary’s location at the church.
Outside Jerusalem, the name Golgotha is also used in reference to Mount Calvary in the Philippines where Catholic pilgrims ascend the steep hill while praying the Stations of the Cross. Though not the biblical Golgotha, the name demonstrates the ongoing influence of the “place of the skull” in Christian tradition and its connotations of suffering and salvation.
In the 21st century, “Golgotha” continues to signify the crucial location of Christ’s crucifixion even as the precise spot remains obscured by centuries of destruction, rebuilding, and religious heritage at the traditional site enclosed within Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
11. Golgotha in spiritual practice and symbolism
For followers of Christ, Golgotha holds deep spiritual meaning and significance. The name is invoked not just as a geographic location but as a vivid symbol of God’s redemptive plan. In spiritual practice and liturgy, “Golgotha” conjures the images and emotions of Christ’s sacrificial death on behalf of humanity. The events taking place on Calvary form the cornerstone of Christian theology.
In Catholic tradition, the devotion of the Stations of the Cross actively commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion by walking believers through fourteen stages of Christ’s path to Golgotha. This spiritual pilgrimage allows Christians to contemplate Christ’s suffering and connect intimately with the passion.
Representations of Golgotha frequently appear in Christian art, hymns, and poetry as shorthand for the crucifixion. Depictions of the three crosses on the “place of the skull” offer a powerful visual symbol encapsulating the death of Jesus. The name Golgotha and its potent imagery will continue to spiritually impact and inspire Christians throughout history.
12. Golgotha in modern culture
Beyond its biblical and theological associations, Golgotha has also left its mark across literature, art, film, and other cultural media. As one of the most pivotal events in Christianity, Christ’s crucifixion has been reimagined countless times as creative works meditate on its meaning and impact.
In modern literature, Golgotha has appeared prominently in such works as Joyce’s Ulysses, Melville’s Moby Dick, and George Eliot’s Middlemarch. Paintings like Tissot’s The Crucifixion depict Jesus anguished on the cross with the barren landscape of Golgotha looming behind him. Golgotha even finds mention in popular music, including artists like U2, Madonna, and Stevie Wonder.
By encapsulating the climactic moment of Christ’s passion, Golgotha remains a provocative artistic subject and powerful cultural touchstone. As a compelling site of death, sacrifice, and redemption, the “place of the skull” continues to vividly stir the imagination of believers and creatives alike.
Whether explored from the perspective of biblical history, Christian spirituality, or cultural reinterpretation, Golgotha stands as one of the most evocative place names in all of scripture. The hill outside Jerusalem forever transformed by the crucifixion into the eternal “place of the skull.”