Gittlen, Barry M.Gray, Ilka Knuppel2017-09-132017-09-132017-09-132017-05TSP2017Grayhttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/5247(M.A.) -- Towson University, 2017This thesis examines the route of Jesus from the time he was condemned to death until he was laid in a sepulchre as told in the New Testament Gospels. The archaeological, historical, and literary evidence for this route, now known as the Via Dolorosa, was meticulously studied. The methodology employed included analysis of primary and secondary sources supplemented by information gleaned from personal research trips to Jerusalem. Early Jewish accounts and maps were examined as well as Roman, early Christian, Muslim, and Crusader era accounts. In addition to the Gospels, this thesis employed historical records of the development of Catholic devotional practices as well as Pilgrim Diaries from Jerusalem that reference the route Jesus walked. This thesis integrated these results along with the findings of archaeological excavations in the applicable areas of Jerusalem resulting in the re-routing of the Via Dolorosa from the site of Herod's Palace to Golgotha.Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death -- Station 2: Jesus is made to carry the cross -- Station 3, 7, and 9: Jesus fell -- Station 4: Jesus meets his mother -- Station 5: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross -- Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus -- Station 8: Jesus speaks to the women -- Stations 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments -- Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the cross/Jesus is crucified -- Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross -- Station 13: Jesus' body is taken down from the cross -- Station 14: Jesus' body is placed in the tombapplication/pdfix, 157 pagesen-USThe search for Jesus’ final steps: how archaeological and literary evidence reroutes the Via DolorosaText