Arch of Ecce Homo

The Arch of Ecce Homo is a triumphal arch on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem featuring a central gateway with smaller passages on either side, all built from stone blocks. The structure stands about 11 meters tall and contains small chambers with barred windows positioned above the main archway.

Emperor Hadrian built this arch around 130-135 AD to mark the eastern entrance of the Roman Forum in Jerusalem during the height of Roman occupation. This construction was part of a major urban redesign of the city under Roman rule.

The arch stands between the second and third stations of the Via Dolorosa, where Christian pilgrims walk the path associated with Jesus and pause to pray and reflect at this sacred location.

You can visit the arch by entering through the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, which provides access to the archaeological site below. Wear comfortable shoes since the grounds and underground excavations have uneven surfaces and stairs.

Beneath the arch are ancient game boards that Roman soldiers carved into the flagstones of the plaza below, with markings for a game called the King's Game. These carvings stand as some of the most intriguing physical traces of everyday Roman life at the location.