The Ostia Synagogue is an ancient former Jewish synagogue and archaeological site, located in ancient Ostia, the seaport of Imperial Rome, in modern-day Lazio, in Italy. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the world, the oldest synagogue in Europe and the oldest mainstream Jewish synagogue yet uncovered outside the Land of Israel. The synagogue building dates from the reign of Claudius (41-54 AD) and continued in use as a synagogue into the 5th century AD.[1][2]
| Ostia Synagogue | |
|---|---|
 The cult hall with the bimah in the background along the wall | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status |
|
| Status | Ruins |
| Location | |
| Location | Ancient Ostia, Imperial Rome, Lazio |
| Country | Italy |
  Location of the former synagogue in modern-day Lazio | |
| Geographic coordinates | 41°44′56″N 12°17′19″E / 41.74889°N 12.28861°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Completed | 1st century |
| Direction of façade | Southeast (towards Jerusalem) |
| Website | |
| ostiaantica | |
 | |
Architecture
editDating
editThere is a scholarly debate about the status of the synagogue building in the 1st century AD, with some maintaining that the building began as a house only later converted to use as a synagogue, and others arguing that it was in use as a synagogue from the 1st century.[3]
Construction
editIn its earliest form, the synagogue featured a main hall with benches along three walls; a propylaeum or monumental gateway featuring four marble columns; and a triclinium or dining room with couches along three walls. There was a water well and basin near the entryway for ritual washings. The main door of the synagogue faces the southeast, towards Jerusalem.[1]
An aedicula, to serve as a Torah Ark, was added in the 4th century AD. A donor inscription implies that it replaced an earlier wooden platform donated in the 2nd century AD, which itself had been replaced by a newer Ark donated by one Mindus Faustus in the 3rd century AD.[1]
Gallery
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Detail of a menorah relief on a column
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b c Binder, Donald. "Ostia". Second Temple Synagogues. Pohick Church. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ White, L. Michael (January 1997). "Synagogue and Society in Imperial Ostia: Archaeological and Epigraphic Evidence". The Harvard Theological Review. 90 (1): 23–58. doi:10.1017/S0017816000006179.
- ^ Levine, Lee I. (2005). The Ancient Synagogue: The First Thousand Years (2 ed.). Yale University Press. pp. 274ff.
External links
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Media related to Synagogue of Ostia at Wikimedia Commons