גּלגּלת Gulgoleth (H1538) means “skull” (cf. Judges 9:53). The 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) suggests four reasons for the name Golgotha (the most common, but modern, idea refers to the skull-like shape and appearance of the hill of which “no early or Greek writer suggests such an idea”) with only one as the possible true reason “…That the name is due to an ancient pre-Christian tradition that the skull of Adam was found there. The first mention of this is by Origen (185-253 A.D.), who himself lived in Jerusalem 20 years. He writes: “I have received a tradition to the effect that the body of Adam, the first man, was buried upon the spot where Christ was crucified,” etc. This tradition was afterward referred to by Athanasius, Epiphanius, Basil of Caesarea, Chrysostom and other later writers. The tomb and skull of Adam, still pointed out in an excavated chamber below the traditional Calvary, marks the survival of this tradition on the spot. This is by far the most ancient explanation of the name Golgotha and, in spite of the absurdity of the original tradition about Adam, is probably the true one.”
