The Pilate Stone is an engraved stone bearing the name of Pontius Pilate, the Perfectus of Judaea in 26-36 AD. The stone was found in 1961 in secondary use as a step in Caesarea’s ancient theatre’s scalae (stairways). The inscription suggests that the stone was initially placed at the entrance to a temple erected by Pilate in honor of Emperor Tiberius. This discovery was significant in the Christian world as it was the first time the name Pilate, the judge of Jesus, was found in an inscription from his time.

Seeing the Pilate Stone

The stone is on permanent display at the Israel Museum. Next are a few more significant discoveries from Israel related to Jesus: the bone box of Caiaphas, the high priest who interrogated Jesus, and the pierced foot of the crucified man from Jerusalem.

A tour of the Israel Museum can be combined in a  day tour of Jerusalem.