| Ancient synagogue ('Anim) | |
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Shown within Israel
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| Location | Israel |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | |
| Length | 14.5 m (48 ft) |
| Width | 8.5 m (28 ft) |
| History | |
| Material | hewn stone |
| Founded | 4th-century CE |
| Abandoned | 8th-century CE |
| Periods | Roman-Byzantine |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1988–89 |
| Archaeologists | Z. Ilan & Dan Urman |
| Condition | ruin |
The Anim Synagogue, located 19km south of Hebron in the Yatir Forest, Israel, was an ancient Palestinian synagogue in use during the 4th–7th centuries CE.
The synagogue is located at an ancient site identified with the 'Anim mentioned in the Bible (Joshua 15:50). It is also believed to be the site of the large Jewish village of Anaia during the Roman-Byzantine period.[1]
The synagogue was discovered during an excavation conducted in 1987. It consists of a rectangular prayer hall orientated towards Jerusalem measuring 14.5 m (48 ft) by 8.5 m (28 ft), an entrance portico and a courtyard with rooms on both sides.[1] Hewn stone walls still stand to a height of 3.5 m (11 ft) and two entrances on the east side survive with their lintels intact. Evidence of a mosaic floor was found beneath the current stone slab flooring[1] and fragments of an inscription remain.[2] The building functioned as a synagogue until the seventh or eighth century when it was turned into a mosque.[2]