What Architectural Remains of Second Temple Synagogues have been Found?
Six structures have been found that most archaeologists would agree are synagogues from the Second Temple period. In the diaspora, pre-70 synagogues have been discovered at Delos in the Aegean and at Ostia (earliest phase), the port city of Rome. In Palestine we have the synagogues at Gamla, Masada, Herodium and Capernaum (earliest phase). Also, in the Qumran complex, two rooms used for communal gatherings should properly be called synagogues (see above). Aside from the Qumran complex, the Gamla synagogue, which was built in the second half of the first century BCE, is the earliest of the Palestinian structures. The basalt synagogue at Capernaum (not to be confused with the later limestone synagogue built on top) dates to the first century CE. The synagogues at Masada and Herodium were both built out of pre-existing structures by Jewish rebels during the Jewish revolt of 66-73 CE. In the diaspora, the synagogue at Delos was used by Jews or Samaritans beginning in either the second or t
