Bulletin of the Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society, Volume 25 (2007)
Abstract
The identification of a synagogue on Delos has been problematic ever since it was first made in 1913 because while there is some evidence relating to Jews and/or Samaritans on Delos not one single piece of it refers to a synagogue or association house. When we come to look at the material relating to how a building on the island came to be identified as a synagogue, we find a surprisingly large gap between what was originally proposed – and widely accepted – and what has been found. To this day, scholarship continues to build upon the original and quite erroneous identification and, apparently, to be unaware of the nature of the material contradicting it. Delos is a small island in the Cyclades, measuring just 5 km north to south and 1.30 km east to west (Fig. 1). The mythological birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis, it was a major cultic centre by the seventh century BC. It is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey (6.160–169) and in Homeric Hymn 3 to Apollo (Crudden 2001).
Delos arrived at its prominent political and economic status by default. According to Thucydides (Peloponnesian Wars, 1.96.2; 6.76.3), Xerxes had razed the Athenian sanctuaries during raids into mainland Greece. The Greek city states responded by forming a defensive alliance (478 BC) funded by its member states. To avoid the danger of any one of the city states becoming too powerful, the Athenian-controlled island of Delos was chosen to hold the treasury of what came to be known as the Delian League. Delos became a hub of commercial, military, maritime trading and slaving activity (the main slave markets were at Rhodes, Delos and Crete; de Souza 1999: 61) whilst continuing to be a major cultic centre. Delos became indepen- dent of Athens in 314 BC and, when the Delian League was finally dissolved in the mid-third century BC, its independence continued, along with its economic boom.
Lidia Matassa
Bulletin of the Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society, Volume 25 (2007)
Abstract
The identification of a synagogue on Delos has been problematic ever since it was first made in 1913 because while there is some evidence relating to Jews and/or Samaritans on Delos not one single piece of it refers to a synagogue or association house. When we come to look at the material relating to how a building on the island came to be identified as a synagogue, we find a surprisingly large gap between what was originally proposed – and widely accepted – and what has been found. To this day, scholarship continues to build upon the original and quite erroneous identification and, apparently, to be unaware of the nature of the material contradicting it. Delos is a small island in the Cyclades, measuring just 5 km north to south and 1.30 km east to west (Fig. 1). The mythological birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis, it was a major cultic centre by the seventh century BC. It is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey (6.160–169) and in Homeric Hymn 3 to Apollo (Crudden 2001).
Delos arrived at its prominent political and economic status by default. According to Thucydides (Peloponnesian Wars, 1.96.2; 6.76.3), Xerxes had razed the Athenian sanctuaries during raids into mainland Greece. The Greek city states responded by forming a defensive alliance (478 BC) funded by its member states. To avoid the danger of any one of the city states becoming too powerful, the Athenian-controlled island of Delos was chosen to hold the treasury of what came to be known as the Delian League. Delos became a hub of commercial, military, maritime trading and slaving activity (the main slave markets were at Rhodes, Delos and Crete; de Souza 1999: 61) whilst continuing to be a major cultic centre. Delos became indepen- dent of Athens in 314 BC and, when the Delian League was finally dissolved in the mid-third century BC, its independence continued, along with its economic boom.
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