In a large scale excavation endeavour supported by the Oleg Deripaska Volnoe Delo Foundation, the Phanagoria archaeological expedition has recently unveiled a monumental find; one of the world’s oldest synagogues, a testament to early Jewish heritage.
Around two millennia ago, under the name Phanagoria in Ancient Greece, this city served as the capital of the Bosporan Kingdom.
It played a pivotal role as a bustling trade hub connecting the southern Caucasus with the Maeotian Marshes.
Nestled between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on Russian territory, Phanagoria was a thriving commercial nexus that spanned 1,500 years. Its significance persisted until the 10th century AD, when an invasion by the Rus tribes—whose name has echoed through time as modern Russia—spelled the city’s demise.
“The synagogue’s foundational structure and wall outlines, carefully preserved over time, were unearthed along the Black Sea’s picturesque Taman Peninsula,” Ruben Bunyatyan of the Oleg Deripaska Volnoe Delo Foundation told Neos Kosmos.
In the 18th century, the Phanagoria’s historical legacy resurfaced as archaeologists stumbled upon the foundations of statues adorned with tributes to the Ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Although a substantial portion of Phanagoria lies submerged beneath the waters, archaeologists are diligently unraveling the enigmatic remnants of its underwater heritage.
Within this historical site, the archaeologists’ meticulous work revealed a trove of artifacts, including marble menorahs, liturgy tables, and fragments of marble steles. A particularly significant find is a 5th-century AD stele inscribed with the Greek word “synagogue,” serving as an incontrovertible testament to its function.
This discovery adds to previous unearthing of marble tablets inscribed with “house of prayer” and “synagogue,” dating back to 16 and 51 A.D. respectively, firmly establishing the Phanagoria synagogue as one of the most ancient in the world.
Its storied history extends back to at least the early 1st century AD, suggesting an unbroken legacy of over five centuries.
“The origins of this extraordinary synagogue can be traced back to the conclusion of the Second Temple period, a historic epoch spanning from 516 BC to 70 AD,” Bunyatyan said.
This era was defined by the spiritual significance of Jerusalem’s Second Temple, built upon the ruins of the First Temple following its destruction by the Babylonians. They were predominantly erected by Diaspora communities residing far from Jerusalem.
“All religious ceremonies were centered around the Temple, rendering synagogues a rarity. While the earliest synagogues date back to the 3rd century BC, their construction proliferated notably during the 3rd century AD. Thus, the Phanagoria synagogue stands as a pioneering example of these early centers of worship, casting light on an era of Jewish history rarely glimpsed,” Bunyatyan concluded.
