The synagogue of Sardis is notable for its size and location. In size it is one of the largest ancient synagogues excavated. In location it is found in the center of the urban center, instead of on the periphery as synagogues typically were. This attests to the strength and wealth of the Jewish community in […]
The synagogue of Sardis is notable for its size and location. In size it is one of the largest ancient synagogues excavated. In location it is found in the center of the urban center, instead of on the periphery as synagogues typically were. This attests to the strength and wealth of the Jewish community in […]
This is a basalt door lintel fragment from a 4th century Synagogue in Greece.
In 1919 a large, underground 3rd- and 4th-century Jewish catacomb was discovered in the north-west area of the grounds of Villa Torlonia, located in Rome, Italy.
In 1919 a large, underground 3rd- and 4th-century Jewish catacomb was discovered in the north-west area of the grounds of Villa Torlonia, located in Rome, Italy.
A quiet, fertile valley folded into the Mediterranean hills, clear streams, tall poplars, ancient ruins more than 1,400 years old—a picture of pastoral quiet. Twenty-five years ago Kenan T. Erim, archaeologist and art historian at New York University, decided that the site of the ancient Roman city of Aphrodisias had more to offer than that. […]
Rabbi Akiva met a tanna in Babylonia, Nehemiah of Bet Deli, who had been a student of Rabban Gamliel I in the Land of Israel. He was still able to transmit traditions from his teacher that were not known in the Land of Israel. Rabbi Akiva said, “When I went down to Nehardea (133) to […]
Excerpted from Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism- a Parallel History of their Origins and Early Development. Ed. Hershal Shanks. Washington D.C.- Biblical Archaeology Society, 1993. The Diaspora Revolts Under Trajan, a series of major revolts did in fact erupt, primarily affecting the Jews of the Diaspora. (74) In 115 C.E., Jews in Egypt and Cyrene (on […]
Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism- a Parallel History of their Origins and Early Development. Ed. Hershal Shanks. Washington D.C.- Biblical Archaeology Society, 1993. The Organization of the Mishnah The Mishnah is a large work, some 800 to 1,000 pages in English translation. ( It consists of laws, debates on legal questions and brief narratives on legal […]
A mask of the Sassanian king Shapur II ruled 241-272 CE, known in rabbinic sources as “Shapur Malka.”