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Gamla Synagogue

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Gamla Synagogue
The surviving remains of the Gamla synagogue
LocationGamla
RegionGolan Heights
Site notes
ArchaeologistsShmarya Guttman

The ancient Gamla synagogue was built between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE. It was located in the ancient Jewish city of Gamla on the western slope of the Golan Heights, 18 km northeast of Lake Kinneret.

It is the oldest synagogue discovered to date.[1] It was found by archaeologist Shmarya Guttman in 1976.[2]

History

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The synagogue was discovered during archaeological excavations from 1976 to 1978 in the eastern part of the city of Gamla. It adjoined the outer fortress wall.[3]

The synagogue was built of dressed stone[4] and had a rectangular plan (25.5 by 17 m). It is characterized by columned passages[4] and a surrounding Doric colonnade with heart-shaped corner columns. The entrance to the synagogue was through double doors located on the southwest side.[5]

There were 4 rows of stone benches along the walls. Pillars in the center of the hall supported the roof. This layout of the hall is typical of synagogues in Galilee.[6] In the courtyard, wide steps led down to the mikveh.[7] Although most synagogues were built with their doors facing Jerusalem, the Gamla synagogue had its door facing southeast, probably due to the difficult terrain.[8]

The synagogue was destroyed by the Romans (67 CE) and the site was not inhabited after that.[9]

The synagogue itself, which was in use until the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE), is an important piece of historical debate about the earliest date of synagogue construction.[10] It was previously thought to have been built in the 1st century BCE.[11] It is the oldest synagogue in Israel.[12][full citation needed] Stephen Fine believes that it was built after 40 BCE.[13] In 2012, Uri Zvi Maoz challenged these dates, believing that the synagogue was built around 50 CE. The mikvah, in his opinion, was made only in 67, and was a water cistern earlier. [14]

As part of the reconstruction, scientists created a three-dimensional model of the Gamla synagogue.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ КЕЭ, том: 7. Кол.: 830—849. Издано: 1994.
  2. ^ Откуда взялись синагоги?
  3. ^ The 2,000-year-old synagogue at Gamla, the oldest yet found in Israel.
  4. ^ a b Levine, Lee (2005). The Ancient Synagogue: The First Thousand Years. Yale University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0300106282.
  5. ^ Rocca, Samuel (2008). The Forts of Judaea 168 BC – AD 73. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-171-7.
  6. ^ Donald D. Binder. "Gamla". Pohick Episcopal Church. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  7. ^ "Gamala: Jewish City on the Golan". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1998-07-29. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  8. ^ David E. Aune. "Gamla". University of Notre Dame. Archived from the original on 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  9. ^ "Biblical Israel: Gamla". Archived from the original on 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  10. ^ Witherington B. "The Gamla Synagogue". BN Media, LLC. Archived from the original on 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  11. ^ Mark A. Chancey. (2005). Greco-Roman Culture and the Galilee of Jesus. Society for New Testament studies. Vol. 134. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-139-44798-0.
  12. ^ Syon 2004, p. 22.
  13. ^ Steven Fine. (2003). "Synagogues in the Land of Israel" (PDF): 449–458. ISSN 1094-2076. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-26. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ Ma'oz, Zvi Uri. (2012). "Four Notes on the Excavations at Gamala". Tel Aviv. 39 (2) (Tel Aviv ed.). Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University: 230–237. doi:10.1179/033443512X13424449373623. ISSN 0334-4355.
  15. ^ Milstein F. (2010-12-01). "Gamla, A Graphic Reconstruction of the Synagogue". Israel Antiquities Authority. Archived from the original on 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  16. ^ Leen Ritmeyer. (2008-08-09). "The Gamla Synagogue". Ritmeyer Archaeological Design. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
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