- Beit Alfa Synagogue
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Beit Alfa Synagogue Synagogue mosaic. Location Heftziba
Coordinates 32°31′08″N 35°25′37″E / 32.518985°N 35.426968°E History Founded 6th century CE Site notes Public access Museum The Beit Alfa Synagogue is an ancient Byzantine-era synagogue located in Heftziba, at the foot of Mount Gilboa in northern Israel. It was constructed in the 6th century CE and is famous for its mosaic floor which was uncovered in 1928.
Dimensions
A courtyard, separated by an entranceway, led into a central nave, measuring 5.4 metres wide. The building also contained a second-floor balcony and an additional room.[1] The synagogue is aligned south-west, facing Jerusalem.[2]
A hoard of 36 Byzantine coins were found in a shallow depression in the floor apse.[3]
Mosaic
The mosaic was discovered in 1928 by Jewish farmers digging an irrigation ditch below Mount Gilboa in the Valley of Jezreel.[4] Professor Elazar Sukenik from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem was called to supervise the subsequent excavations of the synagogue in 1929.[5]
Two inscriptions were found on the entryway floor. The Greek inscription is in memory of the artists who made the mosaic, Marianus and his son Hanina.[6] The Aramaic inscription reads:
- This mosaic was laid in the year of the reign of Justinian the emperor for the sum of one hundred measures of wheat donated by the people of the village.[5]
The central nave floor is divided into three panels: a depiction of the Binding of Isaac; a representation of the sun pulled by a star chariot surrounded by the constellations and signs of the zodiac; and a tableau representing the Temple of Jerusalem and religious objects associated with Judaism.[7]
The zodiac has the names of the twelve signs in Hebrew. In the center is Helios, the sun god, being whisked away in his chariot by four galloping horses. The four women in the corners of the mosaic represent the four seasons.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority: Beit Alfa Synagogue National Park". http://www.parks.org.il/ParksENG/company_card.php3?NewNameMade=0&from=116&CNumber=334516.
- ^ "Archaeological World: Bet Alpha". http://www.archaeology-classic.com/Israel_E/Bet_Alpha.html.
- ^ Winter, Dave; Matthews, John (1999). Israel Handbook. Footprint Travel Guides. p. 646. ISBN 1900949482. http://books.google.com/books?id=CxYEsYsrfGUC.
- ^ Eisenberg, Azriel Louis (1969). Jewish Historical Treasures. Bloch Pub. Co.. p. 71. http://books.google.com/books?id=00aCAAAAIAAJ&q=Bet+Alpha+Synagogue&dq=Bet+Alpha+Synagogue&pgis=1.
- ^ a b Abelow, Peter (Fall 2005). "Ancient Synagogues in the Galil". Jewish Action. http://www.ou.org/pdf/ja/5766/fall66/AncientSynagogues.pdf.
- ^ "SEG 8:93". http://epigraphy.packhum.org/inscriptions/main?url=oi%3Fikey%3D319336%26bookid%3D172%26region%3D10%26subregion%3D67.
- ^ "Frommers Review: Bet Alpha Synagogue". http://www.frommers.com/destinations/jordanvalley/A36557.html.
Coordinates: 32°31′08″N 35°25′37″E / 32.518985°N 35.426968°E
National parks of Israel Jerusalem District Bayt 'Itab · Canada Park · Castel · City of David National Park1 · Ein Hemed · Judaean Mountains · Tomb of Samuel1North District Achziv · Bar'am National Park · Beit Alfa Synagogue · Beit She'an · Beit She'arim · Belvoir Fortress · Capernaum · Chorazin · Gan HaShlosha · Hamat Gader · Hamat Tiberias · Harod Spring · Hermon National Park1 · Hexagons pool · Horns of Hattin · Hurshat Tal · Hurvat Minia · Kursi1 · Montfort Castle · Mount Arbel · Mount Tabor · Nimrod Fortress1 · Rosh HaNikra · Sde Amudim · Sussita · Tel Hazor · Tel Kedesh · Tel Megiddo · Tzalmon Stream · Tzippori · Yehi'am Fortress · Hula ValleyHaifa District Central District Alexander stream · Arsuf · Hof HaSharon · Mazor Mausoleum · Migdal Afek · Palmachim beach · Rubin Stream · Sidna Ali · Tel Afek · Tel Gezer · Tzur Natan park · Yarkon National ParkSouthern District Ashkelon National Park · Avdat · Besor Stream · Beit Guvrin National Park · Ein Avdat · Ein Gedi · Eshkol Park · Mamshit · Masada · Monument to the Negev Brigade · Nitzana · Semekh caves · Shivta · Tel Arad · Tel Be'er Sheva · Tel Lachish · Tel ZafitJudea and Samaria Area Categories:- Byzantine mosaic
- Medieval Greek inscriptions
- Byzantine Empire-related inscriptions
- Aramaic inscriptions
- Judaic inscriptions
- Byzantine synagogues
- Ancient synagogues in the Land of Israel
- Archaeological sites in Israel
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