Monolith of Silwan
Encyclopedia
The Monolith of Silwan, also known as the Tomb of Pharaoh's daughter is a cuboid rock-cut tomb located in Silwan
, Jerusalem dating form the period of the Kingdom of Judah
; the latter name refers to a recent tradition that the tomb was built by Solomon
for his Egypt
ian wife. The structure, a typical Israelite rock-cut tomb, was previously capped by a pyramid structure; the cap was cut into pieces and removed for quarry, during the roman era. The tomb contains a single stone bench, indicating that it was designed for only one burial.
The Pharaoh's daughter tradition was first suggested by Louis Félicien de Saulcy
, who noted that the bible claims that Solomon built a temple for his Egyptian wife; de Saulcy, excavating the site in the 19th century, suggested that this might be the same building. However, subsequent archaeological investigation has dated the site to the 9th-7th Century BC, making the connection to Solomon impossible.
Two letters of a Hebrew
inscription survive on the building, the remainder of the inscription having been mutilated beyond recognition, by a hermit
in the Byzantine
era; the hermit punched a hole through the inscription in order to gain access to the tomb, which he then resided in. Further degradation has occurred in recent years, giving it an unkempt look
Silwan
Silwan or Wadi Hilweh is a predominantly Palestinian village adjacent to the Old City of Jerusalem. In recent years a small Jewish minority of 40 families has settled in the area. The village is located in East Jerusalem, an area occupied by Jordan from 1948 until the 1967 Six-day War and by Israel...
, Jerusalem dating form the period of the Kingdom of Judah
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
; the latter name refers to a recent tradition that the tomb was built by Solomon
Solomon
Solomon , according to the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, a King of Israel and according to the Talmud one of the 48 prophets, is identified as the son of David, also called Jedidiah in 2 Samuel 12:25, and is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before...
for his Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian wife. The structure, a typical Israelite rock-cut tomb, was previously capped by a pyramid structure; the cap was cut into pieces and removed for quarry, during the roman era. The tomb contains a single stone bench, indicating that it was designed for only one burial.
The Pharaoh's daughter tradition was first suggested by Louis Félicien de Saulcy
Louis Felicien de Saulcy
Louis Felicien de Saulcy was a French numismatist, Orientalist, and archaeologist.Louis Felicien de Saulcy was born in Lille, France, the scion of a noble family. He traveled though Syria and Palestine in 1850–51, 1863, and 1869...
, who noted that the bible claims that Solomon built a temple for his Egyptian wife; de Saulcy, excavating the site in the 19th century, suggested that this might be the same building. However, subsequent archaeological investigation has dated the site to the 9th-7th Century BC, making the connection to Solomon impossible.
Two letters of a Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
inscription survive on the building, the remainder of the inscription having been mutilated beyond recognition, by a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
in the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
era; the hermit punched a hole through the inscription in order to gain access to the tomb, which he then resided in. Further degradation has occurred in recent years, giving it an unkempt look