Is the Identification of a Synagogue at Masada Wishful Thinking?
In this paper I shall address the rationale behind the identification of Locus 1042 on the Masada Plateau as a synagogue and the reasons I think this identification is unsafe. McCann, Jason Trinity College Dublin Temple Upon the Waters the Genesis Flood Narrative By discussing the specific linguistic traits, themes and vocabulary of the Genesis Flood Narrative we shall attempt to demonstrate that it is highly probable that the cultural influences which informed and shaped the final redaction of Gen. 6-9 were much wider than have heretofore been assumed. Presuming the Biblical Flood Narrative is not a work of complete literary invention, the numerous Mesopotamian, Ugaritic and Egyptian parallels leave the student with a number of lacunae which may prove to be explained by more distant cultural influences proliferating through Syria-Palestine at the end of the Bronze and beginning of the Iron Ages. The classical image of Israelite civilisation as a figure standing with its back to the se
