Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

naica. Although literary testimony leaves no doubt that Jews lived in Rome

at least since the first centuryb.c.e., archaeological evidence there is rare.

Most catacombs date to the second to fourth centuryc.e.

Synagogues

Archaeological evidence for Diaspora synagogues in the first centuryc.e.

comes only from Ostia, beneath later building phases. There was a main

hall with benches along the walls. Another first-century-c.e.synagogue is

attested at Acmonia in Phrygia by its building inscription. Its socio-

historical significance can be compared with the famous Theodotus in-

scription from Jerusalem. The inscription reads:

the lifetimearchisynagZgosP. Tyrronius Klados and thearchisynagZgos

Lucius son of Lucius, and thearchZnPopilius Zotikos restored with

their own means and those of the congregation the house that Julia

Severa had built. They had the walls and ceilings painted, the safety of

the windows restored and all the other decoration. They were honored

by the congregation(synagZg 3 )through a gilded shield. (IJO2:348-55)

Since the patron of the first synagogue, Julia Severa, belongs to the first

century, the original synagogue must as well. The renovation may have

been carried out in the second or third centuryc.e.Yet Julia Severa and

her family are often mentioned in connection with the Imperial cult in

Acmonia; she herself served as a priestess, so it is unlikely that she was Jew-

ish. Judging from their names, the twoarchisynagZgoiand thearchZnwere

Roman citizens. Honoring benefactors with a precious shield was not un-

usual in Greek cities but is unattested elsewhere in a synagogue context.

The vast majority of Diaspora synagogues date to the later Roman period,

a few to the late second or third centuryc.e.Again, Asia Minor is deeply

underrepresented in the archaeological record.

Palestine before the First Revolt (ca. 6-66c.e.)

Direct Roman rule in Palestine began after Archelaus was exiled from his

ethnarchy Judea and replaced by a governor of equestrian rank in 6c.e.

From then on, Caesarea Maritima functioned as the capital of what was

347

Archaeology, Papyri, and Inscriptions

EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:04:13 PM