Tomb of Benei Hezir

Tomb of Benei Hezir

קבר בני חזיר
Benei Hezir tomb (western facade)
Location	Kidron Valley, Jerusalem
Coordinates	31°46′35.21″N 35°14′20.87″E / 31.7764472°N 35.2391306°E / 31.7764472; 35.2391306
Type	Burial tomb
History
Founded	2nd century BCE
Site notes
Condition	Partially preserved
Ownership	Public
Management	Israel Antiquities Authority
Public access	Yes

The Tomb of Benei Hezir (Hebrew: קבר בני חזיר), previously known as the Tomb of Saint James, is the oldest of four monumental rock-cut tombs that stand in the Kidron Valley, adjacent to the Tomb of Zechariah and a few meters from the Tomb of Absalom. It dates to the period of the Second Temple. It is a complex of burial caves. The tomb was originally accessed from a single rock-cut stairwell which descends to the tomb from the north. At a later period an additional entrance was created by quarrying a tunnel from the courtyard of the monument known as "the Tomb of Zechariah". This is also the contemporary entrance to the burial complex.