CROWN OF THORNS (στεφανὸ̀ς ἐξ ἀκανθῶν). This “wreath of thorns” (Weymouth) may have been made from the Syrian Christ-Thorn, Zizyphus spina-christi. This is a twelve ft. shrub, having two large, sharp recurved thorns at the bottom of each leaf. It is common in Pal., and esp. so near the site of Golgotha.

The plant, however, is prob. Paliurus spina-christi, the Christ Thorn. This is a dwarf, easier-to-pick shrub, four to eight ft. high. The branches are easy to plait or curve. The thorns are stiff, spiky, and in pairs of unequal length.

The “crown of thorns” (Matt 27:29 and John 19:2) is certainly not the plant, Euphorbia splendens, which is grown under this name today.