GABATA
The Aramaic name for the place of court where the Lord Jesus was sentenced.
The meaning of this term is “high place”, and its Greek name was “lithóstrõtos”, “the paving.”
There is no doubt that it was a raised floor, covered with slabs, as was customary among the Romans. In this way, it would correspond to both meanings (Jn. 19:13).
The tradition that places the Praetorium in the Antonia Tower identifies an extensive area of thick Roman pavement as the Gabata. This pavement is marked with signs of games of chance in which the garrison indulged.
However, this identification is unsustainable, since, in all probability, the Praetorium was not located here.