Monday, 20th June 2005
Prof. Gideon Foerster and Prof. Ehud Netzer (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
A BYZANTINE SYNAGOGUE IDENTIFED: RECENT EXCAVATIONS IN SOUTHERN ALBANIA
Some 25 years ago a basilical structure and its dependencies were excavated in the centre of the town of Saranda, a small coastal resort in southern Albania opposite the island of Corfu. The site was identified and published by its Albanian excavators as a Christian establishment. The full significance of the structure escaped notice until recently, when a young Albanian archaeologist identified a menorah on one of the mosaics of the building. Following this discovery, in August 2002 the Albanian Institute of Archaeology and the Albanian Academy of Sciences proposed a joint study of the synagogue and its renewed excavations with the Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology.
During two seasons of excavations in 2003 and 2004, most of the structure with its lavish mosaic floors has been exposed, with the exception of the basilica's southern aisle, which lies under one of the main streets of the modern town. Five stages were identified in the history of the site. In the two early stages fine mosaic pavements (2nd to 4th century), probably part of a private home, preceded the synagogue and later the church. In the third stage several rooms were added, the largest of these containing a mosaic pavement representing in its centre a menorah flanked by a shofar (ram's horn) and an ethrog (citron), all symbols associated with Jewish festivals. Mosaic pavements also decorated the other rooms. A large basilical hall added in the last two stages in the history of the site (5th to 6th century), represents the heyday of the Jewish community of Anchiasmon (Onchesmos), the ancient name of Saranda. The head of the Jewish community is mentioned in a burial inscription dated to 521 CE found at Venosa in southern Italy. In the 6th century the synagogue was converted into a church as can be deduced from two dedicatory inscriptions in the mosaic pavement of the basilica.
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