Synagogue Complete
ID: 119
Building type: basilical synagogue
Context:
urban
Description:
Situated in the city’s northern sector, the synagogue fell out of use in the early Islamic period. The excavator originally assigned its construction to the early fifth century; a subsequent reassessment has shifted the date to the sixth century (Maoz 2015). The building is an elongated rectangle measuring 20.8 by 7.7 m and includes a narthex. Access was provided not along the principal axis but through a doorway set in the southern wall. Beneath the narthex mosaic lay a water cistern. The main hall, 16.1 by 6.5 m, was split longitudinally by a colonnade of five supports. At the western end of the nave, remains of a raised bema, 5 by 2.4 m, were identified. The nave pavement comprises a figural program arranged as fourteen framed fields set within seven horizontal registers of unequal height; some frames carry Aramaic or Greek inscriptions. The aisle is decorated with geometric motifs interspersed with Aramaic dedicatory texts. The disposition suggests that thirteen dedicatory inscriptions originally occupied the aisle. Inscriptions Nave sequence (west to east, proceeding from the bema toward the narthex): 1 Greek dedication placed within a wreath and flanked by two lions; heavily damaged (IIP sepp0012). 2 Greek inscription naming Paregorios as the maker, positioned above two menorahs (IIP sepp0013). 3 Greek text crediting So[sibi]os with executing the panel that depicts the Tabernacle or Temple (IIP sepp0014). 4 Hebrew captions in Band 3 and Band 4 (Di Segni in Weiss 2005: 199–200). 5 JPA dedicatory text within the panel showing animals for the perpetual sacrifice (sepp0010). 6 Aramaic inscription in the showbread-table panel (IIP sepp0011), overwriting an earlier Greek text. 7 Greek inscription in the showbread-table scene (IIP sepp0015), subsequently erased by the Aramaic one. 8 Greek inscription accompanying a depiction of a wicker basket with first fruits (IIP sepp0016). 9 The zodiac and their corresponding months are labeled in Hebrew (Di Segni in Weiss 2005); the four seasons bear bilingual legends—Hebrew and Greek for each allegory. (Autumn equinox – IIP sepp0018; Winter solstice – IIP sepp0019; Spring equinox – IIP epp0020; Summer solstice – IIP epp0021) 10 Greek dedicatory text naming Judah son of Monimos as the maker, set on the rim of the roundel depicting the sun chariot (not the personification!) (IIP sepp0017). 11 Greek dedication, concluding with Hebrew Amen, by Boethos son of Aemilius, responsible for the panel of two servants waiting for Abraham (IIP sepp0022). 12 Greek dedicatory inscription within the scene of the Binding of Isaac? (IIP sepp0023). 13 Greek dedication naming Paregorios and Uranos as the makers, in the panel of the three angels visiting Abraham and Sarah at Mamre (IIP sepp0024). Aisle 1 JPA dedication by an unidentified donor (IIP sepp 0001). 2 JPA dedicatory inscription, possibly of (Tanhu)m? (IIP sepp 0002). 3 JPA dedication of Yudan son of Isaac the Priest and his daughter Parigri (IIP sepp 0003). 4 JPA dedication of Taddai, [son] of the captor? (IIP sepp 0004). 5 JPA dedication by Tanhum son of Yudan, and by Samqah and Nehorai, sons of Tanhum (IIP sepp 0005). 6 JPA dedication of [R]euven the Levite (IIP sepp 0006). 7 JPA dedication from Yose, son of Yudan son of Zaqah, and Hala[f]ya (IIP sepp 0007). 8 JPA dedication of Aghira (IIP sepp 0008). 9 Fragmentary JPA dedication mentioning Shimon (IIP sepp 0009). Further reading: Weiss, Z. 2005. The Sepphoris Synagogue. Deciphering an Ancient Message through Its Archaeological and Socio-Historic Contexts. Jerusalem. Milson, D.W. 2007. Art and Architecture of the Synagogue in Late Antique Palestine, Leiden, 465–466. Maoz, Z.U. 2015. “The Synagogue at Sepphoris – a revised chronology” Journal of Jewish Studies 66/2, 288–294. Weiss, Z. 2008. “Sepphoris” The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land Supplementary Volume, 2033–2034. https://synagogues.kinneret.ac.il/synagogues/sepphoris/