Sardis Synagogue
Type:
Synagogues
Date:
Fourth century
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Turkey
Description:
The Sardis Synagogue (western Turkey) was in use from the fourth to the seventh century, at which point Sasanians destroyed the city of Sardis. The Jewish community built the monumental synagogue—the largest yet discovered, with a main assembly hall over 50 meters long—by adapting and expanding an existing Roman civic bath-gymnasium complex. Large parts of the mosaic pavements have survived, as well as extensive spoliated marble blocks and sculptures from earlier local temples.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
2
Repository and Online Resources:
• Read about the archaeological exploration of Sardis.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons; Flickr; Navid Jamali
