There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. (Mark 15: 40-41)

John adds Mary mother of Jesus and the beloved disciple. Luke adds "a great number of the people" of Jersusalm and "all of his acquaintances." Matthew mentions the mother of the sons of Zebedee (probably Mark's Salome).

Upon the death of Jesus, Mary Magdalene - perhaps the woman with an alabaster jar (Mark 14:3) - emerges as a principal character. If, as many scholars suggest, Mary Magdalene is also the sister of Martha and Lazarus, she is among the most prominent characters in Matthew, Luke, and John. But this is the first time Mark references Mary Magdalene.

Mark was generally critical of the male disciples and largely silent regarding the female followers. But all of the gospel writers agree that this Mary was at the cross and later at the tomb.

Above is Mary Magdalene by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.