Samaritan(?) synagogue in the north Complete
ID: 177
Building type: basilical synagogue
Context:
urban
Description:
Excavations conducted by N. Tzori in the 1960s on Tel Mastaba—the westernmost elevation north of the city—brought to light a synagogue constructed of basalt masonry. The building’s apse was set toward the northwest rather than oriented to Jerusalem. The excavators distinguished three successive phases of use. Two mosaic inscriptions from the nave and the north aisle (CIIP V 7588–7589) are attributed to the second phase, dated from the mid-fifth to the early sixth century. A further pair of mosaic inscriptions from rooms 7 and 8 (CIIP V 7690–7591) belongs to the third phase, assigned to the sixth to early seventh century. The final inscription is a Greek text written in Samaritan characters; Tzori cautioned that this alone does not necessitate identifying the congregation as Samaritan. Further reading: - CIIP V 7588–7591, The synagogue at Tel Mastaba - Naveh, J. 1981. “A Greek Dedication in Samaritan Letters.” Israel Exploration Journal 31, no. 3/4, 220–22. - Tzori, N. 1967. “The Ancient Synagogue at Beth-Shean.” Eretz-Israel: Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies 8, 67–149. - https://synagogues.kinneret.ac.il/synagogues/beth-shean/