Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Ancient Synagogue of Arbel (4th Cent. AD?). Was probably destroyed by an earthquake in the 8th Century. The synagogue faced Jerusalem and was made of limestone without mortar; whereas the homes of the ancient Arbel was made of commonly available black basalt rocks of the region.

The synagogue (18.6M X 18.2M) was first discovered in 1852 by the explorer and scholar Edward Robinson. It consists of a hall with three rows of columns which  supported a second-story gallery. One of the doorway of the synagogue was hewn out of a single rock, of which one very impressive pillar still  remains visible. Other parts of the doorway, adorned with vegetal patterns, are still scattered around. The synagogue was refurbished on 6th century AD and remained in use for another two centuries.

 This monolithic monumental door was carved out of a single rock. Its the eastern entrance of the synagogue.

 The heart shaped eastern columns.




 The niche represents the place for the Holy Ark and its faces Jerusalem.


 You can look for the bases of the stone benches used in the synagogue at the right corner beneath the standing stones. They were arranged in 4 rows.









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