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Beneath the north wall of the rotunda lies a tomb traditionally attributed to Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. According to Gospel accounts (John 19:38–41; Luke 23:50–53; Matthew 27:57–61), Joseph took Jesus’ body down from the cross and, with Nicodemus’ assistance, buried him in his own newly cut tomb. Typical of first-century tombs, it has two long recesses, or kokhim, in which a body could be placed.