Beth Alpha Synagogue Floor

Mosaic floor ancient beth alpha synagogue beth alpha national park israel.

Beth alpha synagogue floor. Beit alpha the new encyclopedia of archeological excavations in the holy land. Portion of a synagogue mosaic floor replica. The ancient synagogue of beth alpha. The mosaic floor of the synagogue was discovered in 1929 when members of kibbutz beit alpha dug irrigation channels for their fields.

Excavations began in 1929 under the auspices of the hebrew university of jerusalem and were led by israeli archaeologist eleazar sukenik. Marianos hanina 6th c. This national park is located between the two modern kibbutz of beit alpha and hefzi bah. Visitors can tour the beth alpha synagogue national park and see the most complete zodiac floor from the time when astrology held a place in the synagogue.

The holy ark flanked by a candelabra a lion a bird and other cerem. A secondary round of excavations sponsored by the israel. The floor is made up of three mosaic panels each depicting a different scene the ark of the covenant the zodiac and the story of abraham s binding of isaac. Mosaic floor of the 6th.

The ancient synagogue is housed in a modern structure which was built over the floor in order to protect it and is open to the public. The ancient synagogue of beit alpha is located in the beit she an valley in the north east of the country. From a house synagogue in dura europos syria mosaic floor of the beth alpha synagogue artist s. Beth alpha s floor is renown as one the most important mosaics in israel.

The synagogue is now part of a national park on kibbutz hefzibah. In this article i endeavor to show that the categorization of the remains of an ancient building at beth alpha as a jewish synagogue is a scientific fallacy. The nearby ruins of khirbet beit ilfa preserve the ancient name. During the 5th century ad the town of bet alpha built a beautiful synagogue which is home to one of the most important and stunning mosaic floors discovered in israel.

Archaeologists concluded that since the mosaics on the floor carry jewish symbols the structure must have been a jewish synagogue. Excavations were carried out the same year exposing mosaics preserved in. The beth alpha synagogue was uncovered in 1928 by members of the nearby kibbutz hefzibah who stumbled upon the synagogue s extensive mosaic floors during irrigation construction. The ancient synagogue of beit alpha is located in the beit she an valley in the north east of the country.

Beth alpha synagogue israel. The mosaic floor of the synagogue was discovered in 1929 when members of kibbutz beit alpha dug irrigation channels for their fields. Ancient synagogue seating capacities. The nearby ruins of khirbet beit ilfa preserve the ancient name.