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Title / Description: Assembly Room (reconstruction)
Location / Provenance: Dura Europos, Syria
Object Location: Located in Damascus National Museum of Archaeology
Commentary: As inscriptions indicate, the Jewish synagogue discovered in the city was refurbished and expanded in 244-45 CE under the leadership of one Samuel. In 249-50 the walls were elaborately decorated with scenes mostly illustrating events and persons of scripture. At least 28 panels portray 58 Biblical scenes. The panels are organized in three horizontal bands flanked on top and bottom by decorative bands. The whole composition converges on the Torah shrine in the west wall.
Bibliography
Erwin R. Goodenough, Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period (New York: Pantheon, 1964-65) fo.s 9-12; J. Gutmann, The Dura-Europus Synagogue: A Re-Evaluation (1932-72) (Missoula: Scholars Press, 1972); idem, "The Dura Europus Synagogue Paintings," in Lee Levine, ed., The Synagogue in Late Antiquity (Philadelphia: American Schools of Oriental Research, 1987); C. H. Kraeling, The Synagogue (The Excavation at Dura Europos) Final Report (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979); Henry O. Thompson, "Dura-Europos," ABD 2.241-43.
Author of Commentary:Harold Attridge
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