• John 1

  • Video Introduction to the Book of John

  • Sahidic Coptic Translation of John 1:1

  • Early Manuscript of John’s Gospel

  • Gospel of John—Some Major Events

  • View of the Valley of Jezreel

  • John 2

  • Stone Jars

  • John 3

  • Sealing a Document

  • John 4

  • Mount Gerizim

  • Reapers

  • John 5

  • Pool of Bethzatha

  • John 6

  • Baskets

  • John 9

  • Pool of Siloam

  • John 10

  • Sheepfold

  • Wolf

  • Solomon’s Colonnade

  • John 11

  • Jesus Resurrects Lazarus

  • The Sanhedrin

  • John 12

  • Palm Tree

  • Colt, or Young Donkey

  • John 15

  • Vine

  • John 18

  • Kidron Valley

  • Oldest Known Fragment of the Christian Greek Scriptures

  • John 19

  • Nail in a Heel Bone

  • The Hyssop Mentioned in the Bible

  • Roman Spears

  • Tomb Chamber

  • John 21

  • First-Century Fishing Boat

  • Remains of a Galilean Fishing Boat

  • Fish of the Sea of Galilee

The items shown in the illustrations and 3-D video footage in the Media Gallery are based on extensive research. However, they are artists’ renditions and, at times, depict only one of several possibilities.

Nail in a Heel Bone

Nail in a Heel Bone

This is a photograph of a replica of a human heel bone pierced by an iron nail that was 11.5 cm (4.5 in.) long. The original artifact was found in 1968, during excavations in northern Jerusalem, and dates to Roman times. It provides archaeological evidence that nails were used in executions to fasten the person to a wooden stake. This nail may be similar to the nails employed by the Roman soldiers to fasten Jesus Christ to the stake. The artifact was found in a stone box, called an ossuary, into which the dried bones of a deceased person were placed after the flesh had decomposed. This indicates that someone executed on a stake could be given a burial.

Photo Clara Amit, Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority

Related Scripture(s)

Mt 27:35; Mr 15:24; Lu 23:33; Lu 24:39; Joh 19:18
John 1
John 2
John 3
John 4
John 5
John 6
John 9
John 10
John 11
John 12
John 15
John 18
John 19
John 21