Pilgrimage Pathways: Burial Monuments and Road Networks in Early Roman Jerusalem

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Several clusters of monumental tombs from the Early Roman period have been found in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Monumental tombs are characterized by their size, grandeur, and exceptional decorations, which surpass functional requirements. They may be constructed or carved out of rock, sometimes with an impressive monument built above or beside them that stands out in the surrounding area. Dozens of burial complexes with monumental characteristics, most of them dated to the last century of the Second Temple period (ca. 37 BCE to 66 CE), have been discovered in Jerusalem. Although the number of monumental tombs is small compared to that of standard tombs from this period, the phenomenon has received significant attention from scholars. Numerous studies have analyzed these tombs, focusing on chronological, architectural, and artistic aspects. However, their significance and location have been largely overlooked. This article addresses these issues. Cemeteries in major cities of the Roman Empire were often located along the main roads leading to the city. However, a comprehensive analysis of the association between roads and cemeteries in Early Roman–period Jerusalem is still lacking, despite extensive studies on burials in the area. While it is unlikely that all tombs around Jerusalem were created alongside roads, it is plausible that the location of some monumental tombs was determined by the presence of nearby roads. The article begins with a brief overview of the status of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, the phenomenon of pilgrimage to the Temple during the Late Hellenistic (Hasmonean) and Early Roman periods, and the practice of monumental burial in the city during this time. We will then focus on two clusters of monumental tombs on the outskirts of Jerusalem that may have been carved alongside main roads to the city— the Sanhedria tombs and the Kidron Valley tombs—examining the characteristics of the monumental tomb clusters, ancient roads discovered nearby, and the association between the monuments and the roads. Following this, we will propose a potential reconstruction of certain routes that may have been used by pilgrims. We conclude with a closer examination of the Kidron Valley, including additional archaeological evidence from the City of David and its surroundings. We will trace the path of the road from the Kidron Valley through the entrance to the city and up to the Temple Mount in an effort to understand the rationale behind it.