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Alexander (son of Simon of Cyrene)
A son of Simon of Cyrene, named by Mark as if known to his readers in the early church.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
ArchaeologyA limestone ossuary inscribed "Alexander son of Simon" (in Greek, with the name Simon also cut in Hebrew script) was recovered in 1941 from a burial cave of Cyrenian Jews in the Kidron Valley, Jerusalem. Some scholars have proposed it belongs to the very Alexander of Mark 15:21, though the identification rests only on the matching names and Cyrenian connection and remains unproven.
The "Alexander son of Simon" ossuary, bearing the Greek inscription "Alexandros Simon" (Alexander [son] of Simon) alongside a Hebrew-script inscription, from the Kidron Valley "Cave of the Cyrenians," Jerusalem; tomb excavated by E. L. Sukenik (1941) and the ossuaries published by N. Avigad, "A Depository of Inscribed Ossuaries in the Kidron Valley," Israel Exploration Journal 12 (1962): 1-12. Possible link to the Alexander of Mark 15:21 argued by Tom Powers, "Treasures in the Storeroom: Family Tomb of Simon of Cyrene," Biblical Archaeology Review 29:4 (2003); identification rests on matching names and Cyrenian connection and remains unproven.
Name & titles
Scholarly"Alexander" is the Greek name Alexandros, "defender/protector of men," a Hellenistic name widely adopted by diaspora Jews such as this Cyrenian family, alongside his brother's Latin name Rufus.
Greek onomastics; Alexandros from alexein ("to defend") + aner/andros ("man").