Tomb of Zechariah, Jerusalem

Adjacent to the Tomb of Benei Hezir and just a few meters from the Tomb of Absalom, this imposing monument in the Kidron Valley was erected in memory of Zechariah, a minor prophet mentioned in the Old Testament who, according to the Book of Chronicles, was stoned:

"Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’ ” But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD. Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”"

Carved entirely from solid rock (a remarkable feat indeed!), the monolith stands out for its pyramid-shaped upper portion; however, its overall style, which includes Hellenistic details like Ionic columns, closely resembles that of the Tomb of Benei Hezir, leading scholars to believe that they are near-contemporary with one another. Funerary experts have dated the tomb to the 1st century CE. Impressively large, it is stands amidst the world's oldest and largest Jewish cemetery and can be ascended for panoramic views of the valley.