The invention of the first century synagogue : a critical examination of the archaeological evidence

Abstract

This dissertation deals with the processes by which five sites at Delos, Jericho, Herodium, Masada and Gamla were identified as first century synagogues. The five sites were chosen for study in this dissertation because they are consistently used in modem scholarship as comparators for all other early synagogues and are the archaeological foundation upon which the chronological development of the early synagogue stands. Understanding the assumed links between these five sites, as well as the material that was used to identify them, is a vital component of the study of early synagogues as a whole and it is the purpose of this dissertation to take a fresh look at the material that has been taken for granted in their identification. Chapter 1 contains the introduction, definitions and a literature review, as well as an outline of the methodology and sources used.