Monday, September 20, 2010

Archaeologists Uncover 1500 Year-Old Synagogue; Samaritan Synagogue Located in Northern Israel

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of a 1500 year-old synagogue near the northern Israeli city of Beit Shean, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced today (September 20, 2010).

The synagogue consists of a 5-meter by 8-meter rectangular wall facing Mount Gerizim, which is sacred to the Samaritans, according to the Earth Times website.

On the floor, the archaeologists found a mosaic decorated with a geometric pattern, in the center of which was a Greek inscription whose last line was revealed to proclaim "This is the Temple."

According to Leah Di Segni, of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, who translated the inscription, the plan of the building -- based on the orientation and the content of the inscription -- fit a Samaritan synagogue.

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