Richly decorated synagogue — one of the oldest — unearthed. See its marble treasures

Moira Ritter
·2 min read
20

Archaeologists in Russia recently unearthed the ruins of a sprawling ancient building — and discovered the oldest synagogue in the country and one of the oldest synagogues in the world.

The Phanagoria Synagogue was discovered during ongoing excavations in Kuban, according to an Aug. 15 news release from the Oleg Deripaska’s Volnoe Delo Foundation. The site was home to a flourishing ancient city with a robust Jewish community dating to about the first century.

Researchers said they discovered the building’s walls and foundation, along with a trove of ancient treasures.

The nearly 2,000-year-old synagogue was richly decorated, with a tiled roof, painted and marble-tiled walls and strong floors, the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences said in an Aug. 15 news release. Inside the synagogue were lavish marble columns and a fenced off section for Torah scrolls and scripture reading.

The richly decorated synagogue was filled with marble columns, according to researchers.
The richly decorated synagogue was filled with marble columns, according to researchers.
Archaeologists said they unearthed pieces of decorated marble columns in the synagogue ruins.
Archaeologists said they unearthed pieces of decorated marble columns in the synagogue ruins.

Archaeologists also found fragments of at least three luxuriously decorated marble menorahs and several marble tables that were used for religious purposes, the institute said. Several fragments of marble with Greek inscriptions — one translating to “synagogue” — were also uncovered.

Fragments from at least three intricately decorated marble menorahs were discovered, experts said.
Fragments from at least three intricately decorated marble menorahs were discovered, experts said.
Archaeologists pieced together the menorah fragments from the site.
Archaeologists pieced together the menorah fragments from the site.

Previous excavations in the area revealed tombstones depicting menorahs, confirming the existence of a Jewish community in the city, according to the institute.

Several fragments from marble tables used for rituals were discovered, officials said.
Several fragments from marble tables used for rituals were discovered, officials said.

The rectangular building, measuring about 70 feet by 20 feet, was composed of two rooms, each about 650 square feet, the Oleg Deripaska’s Volnoe Delo Foundation said. It was destroyed in the middle of the sixth century when tribes attacked and burned down the city.

The synagogue also offers experts insight into Judaism practice during the religion’s “Second Temple Period,” experts with the foundation said. From 516 B.C. until 70 A.D., most Jewish rituals took place at the second Jerusalem Temple, so it was rare for synagogues to be built elsewhere.

Kuban is in southeast Russia, bordering the Black Sea.

Google Translate was used to translate news releases from the Oleg Deripaska’s Volnoe Delo Foundation and the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

2,300-year-old shipwreck — filled with wine jars — found off Egypt coast. See them

Trove of ancient and rare silver currency found at site of Lithuanian manor. See it

Ancient Roman baths — with changing room and iron window grates — unearthed in Spain