Monolith of Silwan

The Monolith of Silwan, also known as the Tomb of Pharaoh's Daughter, is a cuboid rock-cut tomb located in Silwan, Jerusalem[1] dating from the period of the Kingdom of Judah; the latter name refers to a 19th-century hypothesis that the tomb was built by Solomon for his wife, the Pharaoh's daughter.[2][3] The structure, a typical Israelite rock-cut tomb, was previously capped by a pyramid structure like the Tomb of Zechariah. It is one of the more complete and distinctive First Temple-period structures. The pyramidal rock cap was cut into pieces and removed for quarry[4] during the Roman era, leaving a flat roof.[5] The tomb contains a single stone bench, indicating that it was designed for only one burial.[6] Recent research indicates that the bench was the base of a sarcophagus hewn into the original building.[7]

The tomb (the bungalow-like building) and surrounding area

The Pharaoh's daughter tradition was first suggested by Louis Félicien de Saulcy,[4] who noted that the bible claims that Solomon built a temple for his Egyptian wife;[8] de Saulcy, excavating the site in the 19th century, suggested that this might be the same building.[4] However, subsequent archaeological investigation has dated the site to the 9th–7th century BC,[6][9] making the connection to Solomon impossible.

Two letters of a single-line Phoenician or Hebrew inscription survive on the building,[10] the remainder of the inscription having been mutilated beyond recognition, by a hermit in the Byzantine era;[5] Byzantine monks increased the height of the low entrance by removing rock which contained the inscription in order to ease access to the tomb, in which they resided.[5] The tomb was cleaned following the 1967 Six-Day War. Neglected since Ussishkin's survey, trash disposal has resulted in an unkempt, unattractive appearance (as of 2013).[7]