The traditions which relate to Golgotha are very numerous, but there are none recorded earlier than the 4th cent. There can be no doubt that the present traditional site of Golgotha is that which was recovered by Constantine, but beyond this there can be no certainty. Eusebius alone of the writers of the 4th cent, describes this circumstance (Euseb. Life of Constantine, iii. 25) connected with the finding of the Holy Sepulchre ; he was linng in Palestine at the time, and was present at the dedication of the Church of the Resurrection, A.D. 335. This is summarized by Besant and Palmer (Jerusalem, p. 58) in the following words : ' In the time of Constantine a report existed that the spot then occupied by a temple of Venus was the site of our Lord's burial-place. Constantine took down tlie temple, meaning to budd the church upon it ; but, in removing the earth, supposed to be defiled by the idol-worship t&at had taken place upon it, they found to their extreme aston- ishment the cave or tomb which is shown to this daj'. Then came the building of the Basilica.' Most of the historians in the 5th cent, relate the discovery of the Holy Sepulchre with that also of Calvary, and attribute it to the aged empress Helena, the mother of Constantine. ' There is a tradition that Adam was buried under Mount Calvary. This tradition is mentioned and con- demned by Jerome (Comm. in Matth. lib. iv. c. 27) and other early ecclesiastical writers. But the pil- grims, Breydenbach, Zunll.ardo, and Cotovicus, not only say that the head of Ad.am was found here, but some (as Bernardino) would have us believe that it is still to be seen in the fissure of the Apse
GOLIATH
GOMORRAH
227
(The Holy City, pt. II. ch. iii.). The tradition further went, that at the crucitixion drops of Christ's blood fell on the skull of Adam and restored him to life (Mt 27»»- ", Enh 5" ; Epiphanius, Adv. Hcer. xlvi. 5 ; Btewulf, Early Travels in Palestine, pp. 39, 66 ; W. Tyr. lib. 13, p. 851).
There are many arKiiments in favour of the traditional site of Golgotlia in addition to the tradition already referred to, but, until it can be ascertained whether it is wHthin or without the city wall of the time of Christ, the whole question must otill remain in doubt. Tlie road from the tower of Antonia leading into the old road from the city to Jalla would prouably have passed close to the site, and on this road, outside the Jatl'a gate, public executions have taken place in quite recent years, up to 1868. There are rock-cut tombs in the im- mediate neighbourhood, including that of the Holy Sepulchre.
During recent years several sites to the north of the city nave been suggested as the site of Golgotha, in order, apparently, to comply with the view that the place of execution should be situated on the north side of the city (Lv l'"- ") ; but, though this may have been necessary for tlie Jewish place of stoning, there is nothing to indicate that the place of crucifixion during the Roman occupation was located according to Jewish ritual, or that it was identical with the place of stoning.
A knoll above ' Jeremiah's grotto ' has been suggested by Otto Thenius in 1849 (followed by General Gordon, Colonel Conder, and others) as the genuine Calvarj-, on the ground princijially that It is the place of stoning according to modern Jewish tradition. C. Warken.
GOLIATH. — The giant whom David slew at Ephes-dammira (I S 17). In the account of the fight he is spoken of as a Phil, from Gath. He was so politically, but it does not follow that he was of the ordinary Phil, blooil. Prcsumablj', he was of the rcphaite or giant breed, elsewhere spoken of as living at Gath (2 S 21'»--=i, 1 Ch 20*-8), and was descended from tlie ancient Avvim or Anakim (see Anakim, Avvim, Giant, Kapha, Rephaim). The lleb. text makes him 6 cubits and a span in heiglit. Josephus and some MSS of the Sept. reduce this to 4 cubits and a span. On general principles the Heb. reading is the more authoritative, and it tits best the figures given for the tremendous weight of his armour and weapon.s. Counting the cubit at 21 in., this would make him over 11 ft. high, and over 9 ft. high if Ave count the cubit a handbreadth shorter. If he was measured in his armour, from the ground to the top of his helmet-crest, this is not incredible, though he is probably the largest man of whom we have any aathentic record.
The details of the fight are familiar, and need not be repeated here. It is often said that the account is quite Homeric. It is especially so in the boastful speeches the two champions make before the combat begins. The proposed con- dition of the fight was that the side whoso champion was overcome should submit to the other. This was not done, for some reason. In- stead, Israel fell upon the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter. The incident in 2 S 23"", I Ch U'^", belongs to this battle, for Pa.-<- dammim (1 Ch 11") is Kphes-damniim ; and it shows that the Israelites had hard lighting, and not merely an unresisted pursuit. It also shows that Davitl in later years remembered his first comrades in battle.