The Field of Blood: The Archaeology of Akeldama
In the Valley of Hinnom, just south of Mount Zion in Jerusalem, lies a plot of land with a darker history than perhaps any other spot in the Holy City. For two thousand years, it has been known as Akeldama , Aramaic for "Field of Blood." According to the New Testament, this land was purchased with the thirty pieces of silver returned by Judas Iscariot after his betrayal of Jesus. It stands today not just as a location of biblical infamy, but as an archaeological site that confirms the gritty realities of death and burial in first-century Jerusalem. The purchase of Akeldama is recorded in two slightly different accounts in the New Testament, both emphasizing the tragic end of Judas. Matthew 27:3-10: Judas, overcome with remorse, throws the silver coins into the Temple sanctuary. The chief priests, determining it is unlawful to put "blood money" into the treasury, use the funds to buy the "potter's field" as a burial place ...