Tomb of Benei Hezir, Rock-cut tomb in Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery, Jerusalem.
The Tomb of Benei Hezir is a rock-cut burial complex on the Mount of Olives with a classical limestone facade featuring two pillars between pilasters and an inscribed architrave with Hebrew text. The interior contains multiple chambers carved into the rock that once held several bodies and retains details of the original construction techniques.
This burial cave dates to the Hasmonean period and belonged to the priestly Cohanim family, whose names appear in ancient Hebrew inscriptions within the tomb. The construction represents the standard approach to family burial during that era in Jerusalem.
The tomb reflects how wealthy Jewish families honored their dead during the Second Temple period by investing in carefully designed rock-cut burial chambers. The carved inscriptions and detailed stonework show the importance placed on preserving family names and identity in death.
Access to the tomb is through an original rock-cut staircase on the north side that descends to the burial chamber entrance. The narrow interior spaces require careful movement, and sturdy footwear is recommended as the stone floor can be uneven and slippery in places.
An underground tunnel connects this tomb to the adjacent Tomb of Zechariah, a passage that was carved after the initial construction to create an additional way in and out. This connection allowed two separate burial complexes to function as a single integrated system.
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