Gethsemane

The Garden of Gethsemane. The Church of All Nations is visible in the background.

Gethsemane (also spelled Gethsemani) was the garden where, according to the Bible and Christian traditions, Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified. It is located in the city of Jerusalem by the foot of the Mount of Olives. Located by the garden is the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of the Agony.

The Garden of Gethsemane was a focal site for early Christian pilgrims. It was visited in 333 by the Pilgrim of Bordeaux.

There were a number of olive trees planted around the area at the time (some biblical writings refer to Gethsemane as an olive press). The garden today is filled with olive trees that might well be descendants of those from the time of Jesus.

Andrea Mantegna's Agony in the Garden, circa 1460. It depicts Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane

The name 'Gethsemane' is given in the Greek of the Gospels (Matthew 26:36 and Mark 14:32) as Γεθσημανι (Gethsêmani). This represents the Aramaic 'Gath-Šmânê', meaning 'the oil press' or 'oil vat' (referring to olive oil).

External links

Mount of Olives – Churches on Mount of Olives. Photos and general information.
Catholic Encyclopedia on Gethsemane