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Skull

Locations
Modern Location Jerusalem, Israel
Coordinates 31.7784, 35.2297

Geographical Setting

Golgotha, meaning 'Place of the Skull', is the site outside Jerusalem where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified according to the New Testament Gospels.

What is the meaning of Skull in the Bible?

Skull is the English translation of the Aramaic Golgotha and Latin Calvaria, designating the site of Jesus' crucifixion near Jerusalem as described in the canonical Gospels.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing that Skull refers to a descriptive topographical nickname rather than a formal city name helps readers accurately visualize the historical setting of the crucifixion accounts and understand the geographical details presented in the New Testament narratives.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Skull (located near modern Jerusalem, Israel) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Skull in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Skull clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Skull." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/skull/
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