Synagog of Doura Europos

The synagog of Doura Europos , in Syria, is regarded as oldest Jewish Synagog preserved in also a good state.

Discovered in 1932 on the site of Doura Europos, in current Syria, it is dated from the year 244 (estimate made starting from an inscription in Araméen). It contains:

a Community room whose walls are decorated with frescos representing of the animals and the characters,
a court at the entry,
a gate vault of Torah on the Western wall directed towards Jerusalem.

The frescos, which initially made think of a Greek temple, are from now on visible with the national museum of Damas. They represent scenes such as for example Moïse receiving the Torah, or Brace carrying out the Hebrew out of Egypt.

It is estimated that the illustrations on the walls of the Synagog were probably used with an educational aim to teach the religious history and laws. Decorations of this synagog could be painted to compete with those of the other places of worship of the other practiced religions with Doura Europos. No interdict with respect to the representation of the biblical scenes is perceptible in this synagog.

External bond

Frescos of the synagog, EIKON Image Database for Biblical Studies, Yale Divinity School

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