GOLGOTHA, or rather Colgoltha, Goata, or Gulgultha1, signifies a Skull. There was a Mountain to the north-west of Jerusalem called by this name, either by reason of its form, which was much like an human Skull; or because criminals were executed there; or, because it was believed by some, that the first man’s head was buried there2. This Mountain we generally call Calvary, from a word derived from the Latin, Calvaria, which signifies the Skull, as Golgoltha does the same in Hebrew or Syriac. Jesus Christ was crucified there, and buried in the garden belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, in a tomb dug in a rock. The Emperor Adrian, when he rebuilt Jerusalem, and from his own name called it Ælia, prophaned the sacred tomb of our Saviour, filling it up, and placing over it figures of the most infamous Idols. But God having inspired the Empress Helena with so much devotion, as to pay due honour to these holy places, she gave directions for cleaning out our Saviour’s tomb, and building over it a magnificent Church which is still at this day in being. It is a tradition which prevails over all the East, that the first man was buried on Calvary, or Golgotha, where our Saviour suffered death. The Syrians and Arabians call this Mountain Cranion, or Acranion, because of Adam’s Skull which they believe D’Herbe-lot. Bibl. Orient. p. 278. Cranion.was buried there. The Mahometans have a Book wherein there is a Dialogue between Jesus Christ and Adam’s Skull.
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