In the course of November, a Hebrew University archaeological expedition, directed by Dr. E. L. Sukenik, undertook the excavation of the ancient synagogue at Hamat-Gadar (El-Hamme), on the northern bank of the Yarmuk river. The synagogue had been revealed at the beginning of the summer by the Palestine Department of Antiquities. Jewish workmen of the Kibbutz “Hashomer Hatzair” at Kinnereth and native laborers living on the spot were employed in the excavation. The funds for the work had been received by the University from a Jewish resident of Palestine, who wishes to remain anonymous. Suleiman Bey Nassif, of Haifa, who holds the concession for the hot springs at El-Hamme, placed at the disposal of the expedition and workmen a number of buildings that had been used by the warm-baths establishments, and in so doing greatly contributed to the success of the undertaking.
The synagogue had been built on a hill, and — as was established by pottery and earthenware vessels found scattered on its slopes — this place had been settled in the Early Bronze Age and partly also in the Middle Bronze Age. But the mound was later abandoned, and a Roman city was built at the foot of the hill from the northern tip of Hamat-Gadar down to the Yarmuk.
The whole area of the synagogue and its adjoining buildings were cleared in the course of the diggings. The synagogue itself had been built in the form of a square, the walls being about thirteen metres long. Two rows of pillars running north to south divided the area into a nave and two aisles, while a row of columns on the northern side left a narrow passageway, similar to the one in the synagogue at Capernaum. Judging from this row of columns on the north, it may safely be assumed that the synagogue had a gallery, evidently for the use of female worshippers, as in many other ancient synagogues.
On the southern side, facing Jerusalem, the excavators uncovered an apse, like the one at Beth Alpha, which was reached by a short flight of steps. This part of the building was evidently used as the repository of the Ark of the Law, this being proved by the many fragments of marble tablets, part of the railing round the apse, which were found there.
A courtyard and several rooms, serving various purposes such as a hostelry
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