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Gamla Synagogue

Coordinates: 32°54′10″N 35°44′26″E / 32.90278°N 35.74056°E / 32.90278; 35.74056
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Gamla Synagogue
The surviving remains of the former synagogue
Religion
AffiliationJudaism (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status
StatusRuins
Location
LocationGamla, Golan Heights
CountryIsrael
Gamla Synagogue is located in the Golan Heights
Gamla Synagogue
Location of the ancient former synagogue in the Golan Heights
Geographic coordinates32°54′10″N 35°44′26″E / 32.90278°N 35.74056°E / 32.90278; 35.74056
Architecture
Completedc. 1st century BCE
Destroyed67 CE
Specifications
Direction of façadeSoutheast[a]
Length25.5 m (84 ft)
Width17 m (56 ft)
MaterialsDressed stone
Gamla Synagogue
Site notes
Excavation dates1976–1978
ArchaeologistsShmarya Guttman

The Gamla synagogue is an ancient former Jewish synagogue, located in the ancient Jewish city of Gamla on the western slope of the Golan Heights, approximately 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Lake Kinneret, in Israel. The synagogue was built between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE.

It is the oldest synagogue discovered to date.[2] It was found by archaeologist Shmarya Guttman in 1976.[3]

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.[1]

The synagogue was built of dressed stone[4] and had a rectangular plan of 25.5 by 17 m (84 by 56 ft). 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 four 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, 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.[clarification needed][12] Steven 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]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Another source claims it is oriented towards the southwest.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Verveer, Ticia (June 18, 2018). "The 2,000-year-old synagogue at Gamla, the oldest yet found in Israel". The Times of Israel. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  2. ^ КЕЭ, том (1994). "Кол". Eleven.co.il (in Russian). Издано. pp. 830–849.
  3. ^ "Откуда взялись синагоги?". Jewish Magazine (in Russian). Russia.
  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. ^ Binder, Donald D. "Gamla". Pohick Episcopal Church. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  7. ^ "Gamala: Jewish City on the Golan". Israel Ministry for Foreign Affairs. July 29, 1998. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  8. ^ Aune, David E. "Gamla". University of Notre Dame. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  9. ^ "Biblical Israel: Gamla". September 28, 2021. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Witherington, B. (November 7, 2008). "The Gamla Synagogue". BN Media, LLC. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Chancey, Mark A. (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, Danny (2004). Tyre and Gamla: A Study In the Monetary Influence of Southern Phoenicia on Galilee and the Golan In the Hellenistic and Roman Periods (PhD thesis). Hebrew University of Jerusalem. p. 22. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013.
  13. ^ Fine, Steven (2003). "Synagogues in the Land of Israel". In Suzanne Richard (ed.). Near Eastern Archaeology: A Reader. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns. pp. 455–464.
  14. ^ Ma'oz, Zvi Uri (2012). "Four Notes on the Excavations at Gamala". Tel Aviv. 39 (2). Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University: 230–237. doi:10.1179/033443512X13424449373623. ISSN 0334-4355.
  15. ^ Milstein, F. (December 1, 2010). "Gamla, A Graphic Reconstruction of the Synagogue". Israel Antiquities Authority. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  16. ^ Ritmeyer, Leen (August 9, 2008). "The Gamla Synagogue". Ritmeyer Archaeological Design. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
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