What was thought for decades to be an ancient synagogue in central Israel is actually a Roman temple, according to new research by archaeologists. This is the second building that has been excavated at the site wrongly identified as a synagogue.
Originally discovered near Beit Jibrin in 1991, the site has been subject to excavations under the supervision of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem since 2015. The exact location of the site has not been disclosed by the country’s Nature and Parks Authority for fear of vandalism. However, sections of the temple walls can be seen protruding from the ground.
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Previous theories about the site, such as those postulated in a 1991 book by archaeologist Zvi Ilan, for example, compare the structure at the site with the massive synagogues in northern Israel from the late Roman and Byzantine periods.
Co-directors Orit Peleg Barkat of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Greg Gardner of the University of British Columbia believe that the building was built by the Romans to defend the Bar Kochba revolt, a revolt by the Jews of the Roman province of Judea. Against the Roman Empire in 132 AD
“It certainly doesn’t have obvious religious icons like the menorah, for example, that would be typical of a synagogue,” Gardner told the Israeli newspaper. Ha’aretz. “Neither the building’s layout nor the decorations indicate that it may have been a synagogue. Rather, it has many characteristics of a non-Jewish liturgical complex—it has high paved tiles that lead into a hall at the far end that is raised over a vaulted core structure.”
At over 4,000 square feet, the building is very similar to Roman temples and sanctuaries in southern Syria, but the structure’s use has not yet been confirmed. The team is looking for reliefs, statues, or other artifacts that may provide additional context.
In addition, this year archaeologists discovered a grand staircase that would have connected the elevated temple courtyard to a series of vaulted underground chambers.
“Whatever structure was above these vaults, unfortunately, did not survive,” said Valj Barakat. “Altogether the evidence indicates that the structure was built in the second or third century AD,” adding, “it appears that somewhere in the fourth or fifth century, it is no longer usable.”
A 2019 study by Bilge Barkat notes that the area around the temple was heavily occupied by Jewish communities until the revolution, which left many of its villages deserted or destroyed. The area was later resettled by the Romans, who paved the way between the Capitol city of Jerusalem and Beit Jibrin around the year 130 AD.
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