Capernaum Synagogue - Kfar Nakhum, Israel - Synagogues on Waymarking.com

The ancient Capernaum Synagogue, first identified in 1866 by British cartographer Captain Charles W. Wilson, is a significant archaeological site. It was constructed on the foundations of an earlier 1st-century building. Built with imported white limestone atop basalt foundations, its design resembles other ancient synagogues but features more intricate decorations, including Corinthian capitals, relief carvings of vines, fig leaves, and possibly a portable Ark of the Covenant. Swastikas, a common geometrical motif of the period, also appear.

A 4th-century Aramaic inscription on a column names a donor, "Halfu, son of Zebida," linking to names in the New Testament. The Spanish pilgrim Lady Egeria described the synagogue's grandeur in 381, noting its dressed stone construction and steep steps.

Controversy surrounds its exact date, with evidence supporting either a 4th-century origin, based on coins and pottery found beneath its floor, or an earlier 2nd-century date tied to repairs after the 363 earthquake. Another theory suggests it was built during the reign of Emperor Julian (361-363).

Both the synagogue and the nearby church were destroyed in the early 7th century, likely due to conflicts between Christian and Jewish communities during the Persian invasion (614) and the Byzantine reconquest. Modern interfaith dialogue began near Capernaum in Tiberias in 1942, symbolically bridging ancient divides.

More information:
www.custodia.org/en/sanctuaries/capernaum/
www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-synagogue-at-capernaum

Status: Ruin, not in use Denomination/Group: Other Address: 87 Emek HaYarden, Israel Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log User Rating   12/31/2024 Cacher_Alec visited it