Almost 20 years after the remains of a fifth-sixth-century A.D. synagogue were uncovered by an Albanian archaeologist, a joint Albanian-Israeli team has gone to the coastal city of Saranda, known in ancient times as Onchesmos, to renew work at the site.
Its efforts shed light on a structure that, though originally believed to have been a church, now appears to have been a synagogue that in later years was transformed into a Christian basilica.
“Apparently the church was incorporated into the existing synagogue,” said Ehud Netzer, who, together with Gideon Foerster, heads the Israeli part or the team. “On the west side [of the basilica] there is a change in the mosaic pavement, with a Greek dedicatory inscription that starts with a cross.” Both Netzer and Foerster are affiliated with the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Albanian archaeologists Kosta Lako (who conducted the original excavation two decades ago) and Etleva Nallbani lead the other half of the team.
The team has been uncovering two mosaics. One is on the northwestern side of the basilica and features a seven-branched menorah flanked by a citron (etrog) and a ram’s horn (shofar), both symbols associated with Jewish holidays and commonly depicted together in ancient synagogue mosaics. The other mosaic is in the center section of the basilica and contains a number of representations, including animals, trees and symbols alluding to Biblical lore. The mosaic also features a facade that resembles a Torah shrine (aron kodesh).
When originally discovered by Lako during road construction, Albania was under Communist rule and almost completely isolated from the rest of the world. Lako published his findings in an obscure Albanian journal, and therefore international scholars were not aware of the findings. Having no background in Jewish history or archaeology, Lako identified his findings as part of a church.
The site, now located at the center of a major city thoroughfare and covered with plastic sheeting and sand, was ignored until Nallbani recognized the menorah as a Jewish symbol. Through the Institute of Archaeology of the Albanian Academy of Science, she contacted the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology and expressed interest in a joint project between the two institutions. Foerster, who was then head of the archaeology department, and Netzer accepted the invitation. Their mission, in addition to continuing the excavation, was also to put the already-excavated finds into context.
“We went there knowing there was a menorah, and we knew there was a basilica and that there were different layers of mosaics, but we didn’t know anything else,” said Netzer.
Living in a mostly Muslim and formerly Communist country, most Albanians have had very little exposure to Jewish history and archaeology, Netzer said. He noted, however, that the Albanian archaeologists were very eager to learn about this aspect of their country’s history. Despite the religious, linguistic and cultural differences, the level of cooperation between the archaeologists was outstanding, he said.
The archaeologists have continued the excavation of the synagogue begun 20 years ago. The Hebrew University team has also identified two previously discovered water pools as possible Jewish ritual baths. They hope to uncover more remains during their next season.
The basilica seems to have been destroyed in an earthquake around 580 A.D. The earthquake may have caused a fire, whose imprint was noticeable throughout the dig, said the archaeologists.
“It sounds exotic that a Jewish community reached this location,” Foerster said, “though it appears to have been part of a movement of emigration from the Land of Israel during the Talmudic period of the fifth and sixth centuries. “Similar movements were made to areas of Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia and Italian islands. Jewish remains, in any event, are attested to in some European locations from even earlier periods.”
Almost 20 years after the remains of a fifth-sixth-century A.D. synagogue were uncovered by an Albanian archaeologist, a joint Albanian-Israeli team has gone to the coastal city of Saranda, known in ancient times as Onchesmos, to renew work at the site.
Its efforts shed light on a structure that, though originally believed to have been a church, now appears to have been a synagogue that in later years was transformed into a Christian basilica.
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