According to the Gospels, Jesus was buried in the tomb owned by one of his followers, Joseph of Arimathea, though they disagree on exactly who he was. The oldest gospel writer, Mark, calls him “a respected member of the council” (15:43), forgetting that he had also said the council’s condemnation of Jesus had been unanimous. He also seems to be made up. Robert Price (2X Ph.D) notes: “Like Judas, Joseph of Arimathea is a fictional character who grows in the telling.":D:D As Dennis MacDonald (Ph.D) has shown, he is based on King Priam, begging Agamemnon for the body of his son Hector. It is because he corresponds to the slain hero’s father that he is called Joseph.”
Meanwhile, Richard Carrier (Ph.D) has shown that Arimathea is an Aramaic pun: ari- (best) mathai- (disciple) –a (town/place). Carrier confirms that the ari- prefix, meaning “best,” appears in such words as aristocracy (rule of the best), aripikros (best in bitterness, hence bitterest), arideiketos (best in display, hence glorious), as explained in standard Greek lexicons. The math- root forms the verb mathein, to teach, and the nouns mathê, lesson or doctrine, and mathêtês, disciple. The -aia suffix as town or place appears for such regions as Galilaia (Land of the Galiyl) and Judaia (Land of the Jews), and such actual cities as Dikaia (Justice Town) and Drymaia (Thicket Town). Could it be mere coincidence that this follower of Jesus comes from Bestdiscipleville, Judea – or was Mark just being clever?
Page 106- Nailed, 10 Christian Myths That Prove Jesus Did Not Exist- David Fitzgerald.