Revisiting Epigraphic Evidence of the Oldest Synagogue in Morocco in Volubilis

Michael Nosonovsky,Sofia Andreeva,Artem Fedorchuk

doi:10.3390/arts8040127

Abstract

Volubilis was a Roman city located at the southwest extremity of the Roman Empire in modern-day Morocco. Several Jewish gravestone inscriptions in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, likely from the 3rd century CE, have been found there. One of them belongs to “Protopolites Kaikilianos, the head of a Jewish congregation (synagogue)”, and it indicates the presence of a relatively big Jewish community in the city. The Hebrew inscription of “Matrona, daughter of Rabbi Yehuda” is unique occurrence of using the Hebrew language in such a remote region. The Latin inscription belongs to “Antonii Sabbatrai”, likely a Jew. In addition, two lamps decorated with menorahs, one from bronze and one from clay, were found in Volubilis. In nearby Chellah, a Jewish inscription in Greek was also discovered. We revisit these inscriptions including their language, spelling mistakes, and their interpretations. We relate epigraphic sources to archaeological evidence and discuss a possible location of the synagogue in this remote city, which was the first synagogue in Morocco.

Highlights

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While reports about the earliest presence of the Jews in nnorthwestern Africa tend to be llegendary, reliable data is based on epigraphic sources
IInn ppaarrttiiccuullaarr, it is often stated that a synagogue existed in Volubilis in the 3rdd cceennttuury CCEE ((FFrréézzoouullss 11997711, pppp.. 287–92)

Summary

Introduction

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Objectives

Conclusion