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The Pontius Pilate Inscription

The Pilate inscription.
Photo:David Makepeace

In the Bible accounts, Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor
responsible for ordering Jesus to be put to death. See Matthew's Gospel chapter 27 verses 1-2, 11-26 and 57-66, Mark's Gospel chapter 15 verses 1-15 and 42-47, Luke's Gospel chapter 23 verses 1-7, 11-25, 50-56, and John's Gospel chapter 18 verse 28 to chapter 19 verse
42.

Until recently, there was no contemporary evidence outside the
Bible for Pilate's existence (although Tacitus, Josephus,
and Philo all wrote about him). Then in 1961, Italian archaeologists
excavating the theatre at Caesarea found this stone inscription of
Pontius Pilate. Coins have also been found dating from Pilate's rule
as governor.

The inscription is in a block of limestone 82 x 68 x 20 cm.
Although the left-hand side of the words are missing, they can be
reconstructed as follows:

....]TIBERIEUM
[PON]TIUS
PILATUS
[PRAEF]ECTUSIUD...E

The inscription appears to be about a temple that Pilate built at
Caesarea in honour of the Roman emperor
Tiberius (called a Tiberieum).

Close-up of Pilate inscription

Makepeace

For more about the Pilate inscription, see pages 226-227 of 'Discoveries
from Bible Times', by Professor Alan Millard.

Once again, archaeology provides confirmation that the Bible is about
real people and real places.

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