140:. Geometric patterns were popular before as in the earliest layer to an extent, but likely were especially valued in an aniconic society. However, it was not well preserved in the upper layers due to the aforementioned destruction of uncertain cause and additional construction that occurred by the local populace afterwards. Despite this, the mosaic floor from the initial stage of construction was better preserved as it had been filled in with approximately 30 centimeters of dirt to lay the new aniconic floor, although not many artifacts were found within it.
76:. Such an orientation had not previously been a feature of synagogues of the era, but was a new custom which was just beginning to take hold. This is especially noticeable with remodeling which was done in the 4th century, altering the synagogue to feature an apse in the southern wall. While the synagogue did not originally have a narthex, one was added during the later phases of building to the north, although it was totally destroyed. The later phases also added an additional entrance to the north, presumably to allow for easier access to the sanctuary.
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The initial layout began as a fourteen by twelve and a half meter square room with two rows of five columns with benches lining the walls, although none remained standing. There was a single entrance eastward which is considered to be unusual. Most synagogues, aside from others which were located in
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Behind the bima there was an area, possibly a geniza, in which several coins, pottery, and glass were found, which were amongst the few artifacts that were found at all at the site. The coins themselves were from the
Byzantine era and helped identify the stages of building and development. More
51:, it stands out as an unusual archeological find that contains a record of synagogue development from a time of otherwise sparse historiography. It was even developing right through times of anti-Judaic legislation and sermonizing. The
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coins, fifty in all, were found outside the southern wall which were most likely hidden there amongst broken roof tiles in order to serve as a possible emergency funds, although the original owner never had the chance to claim them.
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which may have been used to emphasize the sanctity of the Torah shrine area as compared to the rest of the synagogue or the congregation. Such separations were very common in ancient synagogues and the raised
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the same northern Galil region, did not share this feature. However, it is mentioned in rabbinic sources as part of the synagogue layout in order to emulate the eastward entrance utilized by the
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The apse, where the Torah Shrine had previously stood in the first phase of the synagogue, was further modified in the 6th century to include a raised platform enclosed by a
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and grapes. However, the symbols and birds were covered up in the 7th century, transforming the synagogue into one which was aniconic, likely as an act of piety.
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which were found at the dig site. The only figures found were birds, but there were also many Jewish symbols portrayed in mosaic form, including a
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Fine, Steven. This Holy Place: On the
Sanctity of the Synagogue During the Greco-Roman Period. (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1998)
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Levine, Lee. The
Ancient Synagogue: The First Thousand Years. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005)
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there from its beginning up through its final destruction by fire sometime in the early 7th century.
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area is what shows that this was no exception. The area of the screen depicted a menorah as well as
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Fine, Steven. This Holy Place: On the
Sanctity of the Synagogue During the Greco-Roman Period, 222
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Levine, Lee, ed. Ancient
Synagogues Revealed. (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1981)
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was located amongst a large settlement in which it served as a center of worship for
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In relation to this, the majority of the remaining floor was primarily composed of
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253:אפרים שטרן. אנציקלופדיה החדשה לחפירות ארכיאולוגית בארץ ישראל. (הוצאת כרטא, 1992)
47:. Discovered in February 1974 by A. Ya’aqobi during some unrelated digging near
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72:. The focal point of the synagogue was located southward, towards
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Levine, Lee. The
Ancient Synagogue: The First Thousand Years, 367
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Levine, Lee. The
Ancient Synagogue: The First Thousand Years, 195
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Levine, Lee. The
Ancient Synagogue: The First Thousand Years, 199
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was originally constructed in the 3rd century as a simple
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letters. The only Hebrew word in the entire building was
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Buildings and structures demolished in the 7th century
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7th-century disestablishments in the
Byzantine Empire
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70:Tabernacle
35:-era type
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400:Capernaum
374:Wadi Qelt
364:Theodotos
74:Jerusalem
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37:basilica
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383:Galilee
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123:menorah
119:mosaics
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395:Bar'am
359:Naaran
131:shofar
99:Shalom
95:Hebrew
63:Layout
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455:Susya
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317:Judea
127:etrog
125:, an
103:Greek
344:Gaza
324:Anim
129:, a
91:bima
80:Apse
57:Jews
27:The
655::
161:^
105:.
292:e
285:t
278:v
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