Illustration created for this project.

Pontius Pilate

The Roman prefect of Judea who tried Jesus, found no fault, yet handed him over to be crucified.

Role: Roman Prefect of Judea

Also known as: Pilate

Lived: ? – c. AD 39

Belonged to: Romans

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1 Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleThe Roman prefect who tried Jesus, found no fault, yet handed him over to be crucified.

John 19:16

Reinhard Dietrich — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyA dedication stone from Caesarea names 'Pontius Pilatus, prefect of Judea', and a copper-alloy ring inscribed 'of Pilatus' was found at the Herodium.

Pilate Stone, limestone dedication naming 'Pontius Pilatus praefectus Iudaeae', found 1961 in the Caesarea Maritima theatre by A. Frova's Italian expedition (Israel Museum, IAA), published A. Frova, 'L'iscrizione di Ponzio Pilato a Cesarea,' Rendiconti dell'Istituto Lombardo 95 (1961); copper-alloy sealing ring inscribed 'of Pilatus', excavated at Herodium under G. Foerster (1968–69), published S. Amorai-Stark, M. Hershkovitz et al., 'An Inscribed Copper-Alloy Finger Ring from Herodium,' Israel Exploration Journal 68 (2018)

↳ Caesarea

Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) Ancient writersPilate is described by the Jewish writers Philo and Josephus, and named by the Roman historian Tacitus — a governor attested across three literary traditions.

Tacitus, Annals 15.44; Philo, Legatio ad Gaium (Embassy to Gaius) 299–305; Josephus, Antiquities 18.3–4 and Jewish War 2.9.2–4