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The Sepphoris
Synagogue: Deciphering an Ancient Message
through Its Archeological and Socio-Historical Contexts Zeev Weiss |
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Sepphoris was a major urban
center in the Lower Galilee in the Roman and Byzantine periods.
Architecturally, artistically, and culturally, it was not very different from
the pagan cities of Ancient Palestine, and its
exposure to and assimilation of Greco-Roman culture did not hinder Jewish
life. Like other major cities with Jewish pagan, and Christian populations, Sepphoris boasted residential areas interspersed with
public buildings. |
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In 1993. the expedition team of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
unearthed one such public edifice - a complete synagogue dated to the early
fifth century CE. The synagogue was graced with a richly colored mosaic floor
featuring a plethora of Jewish symbols, biblical scenes, and dedicatory
inscriptions in Aramaic and Greek. This mosaic and other synagogue remains
are considered among the most important exciting finds in Jewish art since
the discovery of the Dura Europos
synagogue in Syria seventy years ago. The present volume is
the final excavation report of the Sepphoris
synagogue. This comprehensive and multifaceted study presents a full
description and thorough analysis of the archaeological data (architecture,
mosaics, epigraphy, and small finds) as well as an extensive discussion of
the evidence in its socio-historical context. The author maintains that the
message in the central mosaic carpet of the prayer hall focuses on the main
themes characterizing the Judeo-Christian controversy at the time and, via
the mosaic's illustrative biblical motifs, serves as a response in which the
Jews claim that they are the Chosen People. |