Bible Figure
Women at the crucifixion
A group of women who had followed Jesus from Galilee remained present at His crucifixion. The Gospels name overlapping members of this group, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Salome, and Mary of Clopas.
Biography
All four Gospels emphasize the presence of women at the crucifixion, though the lists and vantage points differ. The Synoptics describe women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him watching the crucifixion; John places several women near the cross and records Jesus entrusting His mother to the beloved disciple. Some of these same women observed the burial and later went to the tomb after the Sabbath. Because the Gospel lists overlap without being identical, the collective record should not force every named Mary or other woman into a single harmonized identity.
Biblical Significance
The women at the crucifixion provide continuity of witness from Jesus' ministry through His death, burial, and the empty tomb. Their faithfulness during the Passion is an important part of the historical testimony preserved by the Gospels.