Marble tablet containing an imperial decree prescribing capital punishment for moving sepulcher stones or disturbing graves
A 60 cm Greek marble inscription recording an imperial rescript (Diatagma Kaisaros) mandating the death penalty for anyone who forcibly removes stones from tombs or extracts corpses with malicious intent.
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
The Greek text decrees: 'Ordinance of Caesar. It is my pleasure that graves and tombs remain undisturbed forever... If any person is convicted of having broken sepulchers, thrown out bodies, or moved sealing stones with malicious deceit, let him be condemned to capital punishment.'
Plausibly reflects the Roman imperial administration's reaction to the apostolic proclamation of Jesus's resurrection in Judea and Galilee and the Jewish counter-accusation that the disciples stole the body (`MAT.28:11–15`).
In 2020, strontium isotope analysis by Patrice Hamon et al. suggested the marble originated on the Aegean island of Kos, prompting hypotheses that it relates to tomb desecration on Kos, though scholars (Lendering, Habermas) note marble slabs were routinely imported to Judea.
Stern imperial rescript imposing Roman state discipline on provincial burial unrest.