Art and Architecture of the Synagogue in Late Antique Palestine

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2 Art and Architecture of the Synagogue in Late Antique Palestine

3 Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums Editorial Board Martin Hengel (Tübingen), Pieter W. van der Horst (Utrecht), Martin Goodman (Oxford), Daniel R. Schwartz (Jerusalem), Cilliers Breytenbach (Berlin), Friedrich Avemarie (Marburg), Seth Schwartz (New York) VOLUME 65

4 Art and Architecture of the Synagogue in Late Antique Palestine In the Shadow of the Church by David Milson LEIDEN BOSTON 2007

5 Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity has previously been published as Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums (ISSN X) This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Milson, David. Art and architecture of the synagoge in late antique Palestine : in the shadow of the church / by David Milson. p. cm. (Ancient Judaism and early Christianity, ISSN ; v. 65) Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN-13: ISBN-10: (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Synagogue architecture Palestine. 2. Synagogues Palestine History. 3. Church architecture Palestine. 4. Church architecture Influence. 5. Judaism Relations Christianity. 6. Christianity and other religions Judaism. I. Title. II. Series: Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums ; Bd. 65. NA5977.M dc ISSN ISBN-13: ISBN-10: Copyright 2007 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Hotei Publishing, IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Brill provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910 Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. printed in the netherlands

6 contents v In memoriam Stuart Earl Milson

7 vi contents

8 contents vii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures xiii List of Maps xxii Acknowledgement xxiii Abbreviations of Often-Used Sources xxiv Introduction Chapter One Evolution and ancient synagogues Re-assessing past scholarship Normative Judaism and the forbidden image Synagogue scholarship in the early nineteenth century Beginnings of the evolutionary theory of synagogue plans Galilean synagogues the early type Synagogues with apses the late type Broadhouse synagogues the transitional type How the theory has effected synagogue studies Galilean regionalism Recent publications Chapter Two Excavated synagogues dating to the Byzantine period Introduction: Evidence for identification and dating of ancient synagogues Archaeological evidence for unequivocal synagogues by century Dated to the Fourth Century Dated to the Fifth Century Dated to the Sixth Century Archaeological evidence for undated synagogues or those having equivocal building chronologies #En Gedi Southern Hebron Hills, Palaestina Prima Susiya Southern Hebron Hills, Palaestina Prima

9 viii contents Beth She arim, Synagogue I and II Lower Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Ma oz Hayyim, Building A Beth She an Valley, Palaestina Secunda Ma oz Hayyim, Building B Beth She an Valley, Palaestina Secunda Ma oz Hayyim, Building C Beth She an Valley, Palaestina Secunda Rehob, Phase 3 Beth She an Valley, Palaestina Secunda Hammat Tiberias, Synagogue IIA Severos Eastern Lower Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Hammat Tiberias, Synagogue IB Eastern Lower Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Arbel, Synagogue I and II Eastern Lower Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Beth Yerach, Synagogue Eastern Lower Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Hammat Gader, Synagogue Golan, Palaestina Secunda Nabratein, Synagogue 2a and 2b Upper Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Meiron, Synagogue Upper Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Bar am, Synagogue Upper Galilee, Palaestina Secunda Meroth, Stages A and B Upper Galilee, Phoenicia Meroth, Stage C Upper Galilee, Phoenicia Metrological evidence corroborates material evidence for Byzantine dating Chapter Three On the Orientation of Ancient Synagogues and Churches Introduction Where was the Divine Presence? Jewish influence on Christian practice? Christian influence on Jewish practice Orientation of synagogues Jewish prayer toward Jerusalem?

10 contents ix 3.3. Christian prayer toward East Written sources for prayer toward the East Archaeological evidence for Christian direction of prayer Churches in Palestine Several churches founded by Constantine have apses in the West Syrian churches Direction of influence: Jewish-Christian, Christian-Jewish, or separate Written sources from the Jewish realm Location of the Divine Presence Direction of prayer Archaeological evidence in synagogues for direction of prayer Criteria used by archeologists for describing direction of prayer An obstacle: view and access to some platforms interrupted by columns and entrances An enhanced axis in synagogues Synagogues at Ma oz Hayyim and at Rehob near Scythopolis Bema and chancel screens in churches and synagogues Conclusion Chapter Four The façade motif in ancient synagogues Introduction: the Torah Scrolls, the Torah Shrine and the façade motif A generic motif? The façade motif on synagogue pavements Inscriptions referring to the Torah Shrine Archaeological evidence for the Torah Shrine Torah Shrine or Torah Ark Scrolls in late antiquity Iconography of the façade motif from funerary contexts A closer look at synagogue pavements Depictions of the Torah Shrine on glass The façade motif in pagan and Christian contexts From iconography to object: the Torah Shrine An enlarged façade with columns motif Conclusion

11 x contents Chapter Five Dated Churches in Galilee and the Chancel Screen Introduction Historical sources Churches Dated by Inscription Evron 415, 443, and 490 CE Shavei Tzion 486 CE Horvat Esh-Shubeika 513 CE Horvat Hesheq 519 CE Philoteria (Beth Yerach) 528/9 CE Horvat Bata (Carmiel) 543 CE Suhmata 555 CE Beth She an, Monastery of Kyra Maria c. 567 CE Gerasa Church of Bishop Marianos 570 CE Kursi CE Hippos-Sussita Cathedral and Baptistery 591 CE Dating the Chancel Screen in Churches Chapter Six Ecclesiastical Furnishings in Synagogues Introduction: apses and ecclesiastical furnishings in fourth to sixth century synagogues Written sources for platforms in synagogues The platform in rabbinic liturgical discussion Archaeological evidence for the raised platforms in synagogues Platforms in a range of sizes (Table 6.1) Another type of small, stepped platform Written evidence for an ambo in the synagogue The Seat of the Elder at Dura-Europos Was there a wooden platform in the synagogue at Dura-Europos? Archaeological evidence from Palestine for an ambo in synagogues The place where the Word is read aloud: sources on the ambo in early churches Chancel screens: marking the sacred space in churches Evidence for chancel screens in the churches of Hagia Sophia and St. Polyeuktos in Constantinople

12 contents xi 6.8. Chancel screens in synagogues in late Antique Palestine Archaeological evidence for chancel screens in synagogues Synagogues with chancel screens generally located near cities Motives for the introduction of chancel screens into the synagogue The Chair of Moses or Kathedra in synagogues Conclusion Chapter Seven The Niche and the Apse in Synagogues Introduction: Where were the Holy Scrolls kept in the ancient synagogue? Semicircular niches in synagogues Dura-Europos Eshtemo a Susiya Arbel in Galilee Nawa in Syria Rectangular niche Horvat Rimmon Blocked Doorways at Beth She arim and En Gedi Rectangular chambers as the synagogue s focal point Chambers at Hammat Tiberias, and Horvat Sumaqa Rectangular recesses at Gerasa and Horvat Ma on Apses in churches and synagogues Assumptions concerning apses in synagogues Some explanations for the appearance of the apse in synagogues The appearance of the apse as an architectural feature in synagogues in relation to Byzantine liturgical practice The First Entrance of the Gospel and Hetoimasia Artistic Representations of The First Entrance and The Gospel Enthroned Imagery of the imperial throne The Word of God

13 xii contents 7.8. Competition with Christianity and adaptation in the synagogue Conclusion Appendix A On Vitruvius, a synagogue, and five churches in the Provinces of Syria and Palestine A.1. Introduction: Vitruvius and design A.1.1. Names of builders and their titles A.1.2. Inscriptions from Syria A.2. Methodology A.3. Churches with identical dimensions A.3.1. Churches at Nawa and Sugane in Syria A.3.2. Identical plans at Mampsis in Palestina Tertia and et-tuba, in Syria A.3.3. The southern church at Burdaqli in Syria A.3.4. The synagogue at Ma oz Hayyim, Palestine Secunda A.4. Conclusion Table A:1. Metrology of Churches and Synagogues Bibliography Archaeological Evidence for Ancient Synagogues: The Catalogue

14 list of figures xiii LIST OF FIGURES Fig. I:1. Theodotos inscription, found in Jerusalem; now in Istanbul (first century); (Weil, 1920) Fig. 1:1. Synagogue plans; Capernaum, Eshtemoa, and Beth Alpha as typical of each of the three types (second to sixth centuries (sic)); (drawings by author) 480 Fig. 2:1. Horvat Shema ; photo of meeting between stylobate wall and the northern wall of the building (not integrally bound together) (fourth century); (author s photo) Fig. 2:2. Horvat Shema ; fragments of a small capital found underneath stone bench next to S. wall (fourth century); (Meyers, 1976, photo 3.4) Fig. 2:3. Gush Halav; N S section through the synagogue showing a thin plaster floor level, with later plaster repair (fourth century); (Meyers, 1990, Fig. 5, pg ) Fig. 2:4. Gush Halav; photo of cyma recta mouldings found in the synagogue (fourth century); (Meyers, 1990, photo 18, pg. 50) Fig. 2:5. Nabratein; photo of lintel bearing Hebrew inscription: In the year 494 since the destruction of the temple, Hanina son of Lizar and Luliana son of Yudan built this. (564 CE); (author s photo) Fig. 2:6. Beth Alpha; photo of the nave mosaic (sixth century); (author s photo) Fig. 2:7. Susiya; photograph of the platform and north wall within the synagogue (fourth eighth centuries); (Yeivin, 1989, Fig. 2) Fig. 2:8. Hammath Tiberias; photo of apse floor of the phase III synagogue, showing traces of an earlier wall (fifth century); (author s photo) Fig. 2:9. Hammath Tiberias; photo of small platform relating to earlier phase of the synagogue (without apse) (fifth century); (author s photo)

15 xiv list of figures Fig. 2:10. Nabratein; stone lintel with conch and pediment flanked by lions found embedded in the platform of Synagogue 2b (third century); (author s photo) 486 Fig. 2:11. Meiron; photo of the east foundation wall, with bond to southern annex (fourth century); (author s photo) Fig. 2:12. Meiron; section through E. wall of synagogue looking south, showing location of Antonine (Probus and Aurelian) coins (found below L1004) ( CE); (Meyers, 1977, Fig 2.9, pg. 123) 488 Fig. 2:13. Bar am; photo of the spiral consolae flanking the lintel of the main doorway (fifth century); (author s photo) Fig. 2:14. Bar am; photo of the W. wall showing possible earlier wall below present wall (fifth century); (author s photo) Fig. 3:1. Dura Europos; photo of the western wall of the reconstructed synagogue (third century); (Kraeling, 1956, Pl. 25:1) Fig. 3:2. Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem; plan of the martyrium (fourth century); (Couasnon, 1972, Pl. 8) Fig. 3:3. Tabgha; plan of the church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (fifth century); (Schneider, 1937, Pl. 1) Fig. 3:4. Fafirtin, Syria; plan, section and details of the church (372 CE); (Butler, 1920, Ill. 370, pg. 328) 492 Fig. 3:5. Harab Sems; photo of the church (fifth century); (Butler, 1920, Ill. 363) Fig. 3:6. Baalbek; plan of the church built on the remains of the temple of Jupiter (fourth century); (Wiegand, 1921, Pl. 17) Fig. 3:7. Horvat Shema ; photo of the platform abutting the southern wall of the synagogue (fourth century); (author s photo) Fig. 3:8. Rehob; plan of the synagogue showing platform against south wall (fourth sixth centuries); (Vitto, 1981, pg. 90) Fig. 3:9. Ma oz Hayyim; orthogonal plan of the phase I synagogue showing platform against southern wall of the hall (fourth century); (Tsaferis, 1982, Fig. 3, pg. 218)

16 list of figures xv Fig. 4:1. Fig. 4:2. Fig. 4:3. Fig. 4:4. Fig. 4:5. Fig. 4:6. Fig. 4:7. Fig. 4:8. Fig. 4:9. Hammath Tiberias; façade motif as a Torah Shrine flanked by menorot and other objects (fourth century); (Dothan, 1981, Pl. 10) Ben Ezra Synagogue, Cairo; reconstructed wooden Torah Shrine from medieval synagogue (eleventh (?) century); (Lambert, 1994, Fig. 7.4, pg. 220) Pompeii; Lares altar with fresco framed by columns and pediment from the House of the Vettii (first century); (Eschebach, 1978, Fig. 147) 497 Seleucia, near Antioch; motif as a frame for a floor mosaic showing the inebriated Dionysus and Heracles in the triclinium of the House of the Drinking Contest (mid-third century); (Levi, ii, 1947, Pl. 30:b) Sion tresure; silver book cover decorated with façade motif and gilded cross (H: 37.5 x 27.6 cm.) (sixth century); (Boyd and Mango, 1992, Fig. S.22:5) Victoria and Albert Museum; consular diptych showing archangel Michael framed by the façade motif (sixth century); (Rodley, 1994, Fig. 66) Esquiline Treasure; Projecta Casket depiciting a façade motif (mid fourth century); (Rodley, 1994, Fig. 30, pg. 47) Dura Europos; façade motif used as a depiction of the Temple door between double columns (set above niche) (third century); (Kraeling, 1956, Pl. 51) Beth She arim; menorah framed by façade motif in relief on lead sarcophagus found in the necropolis (third century); (Avigad, 1976, Pl. 65:1) 503 Fig. 4:10. Beth Alpha; façade motif on the mosaic floor of the synagogue (sixth century); (Sukenik, 1932, Pl. 8) Fig. 4:11. El-Khirbe; drawing of synagogue mosaic with Torah Shrine (?) or Temple façade (fifth century); (Magen, 1993, ) Fig. 4:12. Khirbet Samara; mosaic depiction of Torah Shrine with curtain wrapped around innermost

17 xvi list of figures left-hand column (late fourth early fifth centuries); (Magen, 1993, Pl. 1) Fig. 4:13. Beth She an North; double façade motif depicting a curtain hung on a pole set between columns (fifth century); (Zori, 1967, Pl. 29:5) Fig. 4:14. Dalton; chancel post with partial inscription (undated); (Naveh, 1978, Pl. 145) Fig. 4:15. Ostia; plan of the synagogue (fourth century); (Runesson, 2001, Fig. 88, pg. 68) Fig. 4:16. Ostia; photo of the aedicula of the phase II synagogue (fifth century); (Runesson, 2001, Fig. 54, pg. 57) Fig. 4:17. Sardis; plans of the three phases of the synagogue (third fifth centuries); (Seager, 1983, Fig. 271) Fig. 4:18. Sardis; photo of the reconstructed aedicule on the eastern wall (late fourth century); (Seager, 1983, Fig. 274) Fig. 4:19. Chorazin; stone conch found loose in the synagogue (fourth fifth century); (author s photo) Fig. 4:20. Dura-Europos; fresco of the battle of Eben Ezer showing a jewelled chest (third century); (Kraeling, 1956, Pl. 54) Fig. 4:21. Dura-Europos; fresco depicted on wing panel III next to the aedicule, showing Ezra (or Moses) reading a scroll, with a yellow chest (scroll case?) with rounded top covered by a red cloth at his right foot (third century); (Kraeling, 1956, Pl. 77) 512 Fig. 4:22. Beth She arim; relief decoration in front of tomb, showing a façade motifs with menorah (third century); (Mazar, 1973, Pl. 32) Fig. 4:23. Sepphoris; restored façade motif on mosaic pavement from the synagogue (fifth century); (Weiss, 2005, Fig. 11, pg. 66) Fig. 4:24. Susiya; mosaic depiction of façade motif with Torah Shrine flanked by menorot in front of small platform (damaged by later chancel screen) (fifth century); (Gutman et alii, 1981, pg. 125) Fig. 4:25. Na aran; façade motif on mosaic floor (sixth century); (Benoit, 1961, Pl. 7) Fig. 4:26. Pompeii, House of the Vettii; fresco of large open armarium, with gods and perfume bottles set on

18 list of figures xvii three shelves, and putti making perfume in the foreground (first century); (Budde, 1939) Fig. 4:27. Herculaneum; wooden armarium from the House of Sacello de legno (first century); (Mols, 1993, Fig 112, pg. 497) Fig. 4:28. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna; wall mosaic showing open cabinet with Gospels on shelves (450 CE); (Deichmann, 1958, Fig. 6) Fig. 4:29. Ostia; shoemaker in relief on stone sarcophagus (first century); (Revel-Neher, 1984, Fig. 97) Fig. 4:30. Khirbet el-mekhayyat, Jordan; mosaic depiction of a façade motif, with inscription flanked by two lamps (sixth century); (Piccorillo, 1998, Fig. 210, pg. 354) Fig. 4:31. Syria-Palestine; glass chalice with a ciborium motif with curtains, similar to the façade motif, framing a cross (sixth century); (Israeli and Mevorah, 2000, pg. 91) Fig. 4:32. Nabratein; ceramic sherd with incised depiction of a shrine (eighth century); (Meyers and Meyers, 1982, Fig. 3, pg. 179*) Fig. 5:1. Gerasa, Church of SS Peter and Paul; reconstruction of the chancel (mid-sixth century); (Crowfoot, 1941, frontispiece) Fig. 5:2. Hippos-Sussita; restored and re-installed marble chancel screens of the south aisle of the Northwest church (sixth century); (Segal, 2004, Fig. 100) Fig. 6:1. Meroth; photo of the western raised platform adjacent to the S wall, next to the main doorway (sixth century); (author s photo) Fig. 6:2. Hammat Tiberias; marble chancel post with incised menorah (sixth century); (Hachlili, 1996, Pl. 28, pg. 108) Fig. 6:3. Chorazin; photo of the basalt stone chair found within the synagogue (fourth century); (Yeivin, 2000, Fig. 130) Fig. 6:4. Beth She arim; photo of the platform adjacent to the S. wall of the civic basilica (third century); (author s photo)

19 xviii list of figures Fig. 6:5. Fig. 6:6. Fig. 6:7. Fig. 6:8. Fig. 6:9. Meiron; photo of the window in the S wall of the synagogue (view to South) (third century); (author s photo) Gush Halav; photo of remains of platform (phase I) in the nave, adjacent to central doorway (fifth to eighth centuries); (author s photo) Gush Halav; photo of platform (phase II) built in the western aisle, adjacent to western stylobate (fifth to eighth centuries); (author s photo) Chorazin; photo of the decorated basalt pilaster from the synagogue (sixth to seventh centuries (?)); (author s photo) Hammath Tiberias; photo showing building seam between earlier wall (to left) and later apse wall (to right) (sixth century); (author s photo) Fig. 6:10. Hammath Tiberias; photo of stone door socket in the platform in the west aisle (sixth century); (author s photo) Fig. 6:11. Nabratein; reconstruction of the interior S. wall with two platforms (note how the right column has been erased, and the left platform supports a table with menorah) (fourth century); (Meyers, 1996, Fig. 1.10b, pg. 14) Fig. 6:12. Capernaum; photo of the remains of the western platform found in the southern section of the nave, next to the main entrance (fifth century); (Corbo, 1975, Fig. 52) Fig. 6:13. Charts of Platform Sizes; (third fourth centuries); (DM) Fig. 6:14. Chart of Platform Sizes; (fifth sixth centuries); (DM) Fig. 6:15. Qasrin; photo of the platform (view to South) (fifth century); (author s photo) Fig. 6:16. Horvat #Anim; photo of the platform at the northern end of the nave (fourth seventh centuries); (Ilan, 1991, Fig. 1, pg. 304) Fig. 6:17. Horvat #Anim; reconstruction of the platform (fourth seventh centuries); (Amit, 2004, Fig. 4, pg. 153)

20 list of figures xix Fig. 6:18. Dura-Europos; photo of the niche and adjacent Seat of the Elder (second third century); (Kraeling, 1956, Pl. 24) Fig. 6:19. Dura-Europos; plan of the synagogue indicating the locations of the holes in the plaster floor and platform in the southwestern corner of the prayer hall (second third century); (Kraeling, 1956, Plan 6) Fig. 6:20. Beth She an North; photo of the stepped platform in the northern aisle (the later bench partially covers the lowest step) (mid-sixth century); (author s photo) Fig. 6:21. Beth Alpha; photo of the platform adjacent to the SE pier of the nave (sixth century); (Sukenik, 1932, Pl. V:2) Fig. 6:22. Gerasa; ambo in the church of the Bishop Isaiah (seventh century); (Clark, 1986, Pl. 4, pg. 326) Fig. 6:23. Rehob; fragments of a chancel screen found in the synagogue with a wreath motif surrounding a menorah (sixth century); (Hachlili, 1996, Fig 5.9a) 538 Fig. 6:24. Massout Yitzhak; fragments of a chancel screen found in the church with a wreath motif surrounding a cross (sixth century); (Hachlili, 1996, Fig 5.9b) Fig. 6:25. Gaza; fragments of carved marble chancel found in the nave of the synagogue (sixth century); (Ovadiah, 1995, Pl. 18a) Fig. 6:26. Susiya; reconstruction drawing of the chancel arrangement on the platform, based on mosaic depiction (cf. Fig. 5:31) (fifth century); (Yeivin, 1989, Pl. 52, Fig. 5) Fig. 6:27. Hammat Gader; marble chancel posts found in the synagogue (sixth century); (Sukenik, 1935, Pl. 13a) Fig. 7:1. Sardis; photo of apse with three tiers of benches (synthronon) (late fifth century); (Seager, 1989, Fig. 256) Fig. 7:2. Sardis; photo showing both reconstructed aediculae flanking central entrance (fifth centuries); (Seager, 1989, Fig. 266)