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Alexander (son of Simon of Cyrene)
A son of Simon of Cyrene, named by Mark as if known to his readers in the early church.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
ArchaeologyA limestone ossuary inscribed "Alexander son of Simon" (in Greek, with the name Simon also cut in Hebrew script) was recovered in 1941 from a burial cave of Cyrenian Jews in the Kidron Valley, Jerusalem. Some scholars have proposed it belongs to the very Alexander of Mark 15:21, though the identification rests only on the matching names and Cyrenian connection and remains unproven.
The "Alexander son of Simon" ossuary, bearing the Greek inscription "Alexandros Simon" (Alexander [son] of Simon) alongside a Hebrew-script inscription, from the Kidron Valley "Cave of the Cyrenians," Jerusalem; tomb excavated by E. L. Sukenik (1941) and the ossuaries published by N. Avigad, "A Depository of Inscribed Ossuaries in the Kidron Valley," Israel Exploration Journal 12 (1962): 1-12. Possible link to the Alexander of Mark 15:21 argued by Tom Powers, "Treasures in the Storeroom: Family Tomb of Simon of Cyrene," Biblical Archaeology Review 29:4 (2003); identification rests on matching names and Cyrenian connection and remains unproven.
Name & titles
Scholarly"Alexander" is the Greek name Alexandros, "defender/protector of men," a Hellenistic name widely adopted by diaspora Jews such as this Cyrenian family, alongside his brother's Latin name Rufus.
Greek onomastics; Alexandros from alexein ("to defend") + aner/andros ("man").
Where in scripture
MarkThey compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
Mark 15:21 — Son of Simon of Cyrene
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.