Delos Synagogue

The synagogue on Delos ( scientifically referred to as CG 80) is a ruin on Delos, which is dated in its present form to the first century BC. It is the oldest synagogue, which is detectable as construction.

History

From the literature and by inscriptions from Delos is known with certainty that the Jews and Samaritans lived on the island.

The synagogue is located on the east coast of the island and city of Delos, in a little- excavated town area, but the predominantly served as a residential area. The building overlooks the sea and is 28.30 × 30.70 m tall. Its east side is not obtained because it has slipped into the sea. The building was probably originally a residential building. In the first century BC there were renovations that transformed the building a house of worship. A total of five construction phases could be distinguished.

It consists of two large rooms that are equipped with marble benches, one of them is a kind of throne room with a throne of marble. During the construction is inscribed votive stelae found with the inscription: God, the highest. Thus Jews and Samaritans in the Diaspora designated their God.

The building was excavated from 1912 to 1913 under the direction of André Plassart. Architecture and equipment taken as evidence that it is in the building is a synagogue. Some researchers object to the use by pointing out that theoretically the equipment could have been brought there from another building.