Khirbet Shema

Names

Transliterated Name	Source	Name
Khirbet Shema
Tekoa of Galilee

Introduction

Khirbet Shema is located in the Upper Galilee on a foothill of Mount Meiron. (Eric M. Meyers in Stern et al, 1993).

Maps and Plans

Map showing location of Khirbet Shema' and Meiron from Magness (1997)

Figure 1

Map of Galilee showing the location of Khirbet Shema'

(reproduced with permission, and modified from Meyers, Strange, and Meyers 1981: fig. 1.2).

Magness (1997)
Topographic map showing location of Khirbet Shema' and Meiron from Meyers et al (1972)

Figure 2

Topographic map indicates that Meiron and Khirbet Shema' are separated only by the Wadi Meiron. Both sites are less than 10 km. from Safed.

Drawing and photo by John F. Thompson

Magness (1997)
Site plan of Khirbet Shema' from Meyers et al (1972)

Figure 4

This site plan represents the Joint Expedition's continuing effort to investigate Khirbet Shema' in its totality. In the center at grid zero the synagogue and associated buildings. Below and to the left one grid square may be located the Mausoleum and an ancient wine press.

Drawing and photo by John F. Thompson

Magness (1997)
Excavation Area from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 1.1

Key to the excavation: site plan with grid squares and quadrants for the entire site

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)
How to interpret the index number assigned to items of the find from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 1.2

How to interpret the index number assigned to items of the find

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)
Close-up of the site plan from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 3.1

Close-up of the site plan, showing the synagogue and excavated areas

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)
Site plan of Khirbet Shema' from Meyers et al (1972)
Figure 5

The synagogue plan reveals all the salient features:
- the terrace leading to entryway on the north
- the bema on the south wall
- stairway
- two chambers
- women's gallery
- 'Eagle doorway' on western wall
Drawing and photo by John F. Thompson and John Machinist. Photo by ohn F. Thompson

Magness (1997)
Stone by stone plan of the synagogue from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 3.2

Stone by stone plan of the synagogue

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)
The synagogue and the North Building, stone by stone drawing from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 3.14

The synagogue and the North Building, stone by stone drawing

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)
Schematic ground plan of Synagogues I and II from Magness (1997)

Figure 3

Schematic ground plan of Synagogues I and II

(reproduced with permission from Meyers,Kraabe!, and Strange 1976: 37, fig. 3.3)

Magness (1997)
Perspective cutaway of the synagogue from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 3.8

Perspective cutaway of the synagogue

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)
Isometric drawing of the synagogue from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 3.10

Isometric drawing of the synagogue, with traffic patterns

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)
Clerestory synagogue reconstruction drawing, with the North Building from Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Figure 3.11

Clerestory synagogue reconstruction drawing, with the North Building

Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange, J. (1976)

Chronology

1st Earthquake

Although excavators Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange (1976) identified two earthquake events ( Eusebius' Martyr Quake of ~306 CE and Monaxius and Plinta Quake of 419 CE) which destroyed a Synagogue I and then a Synagogue II at Khirbet Shema, subsequent authors ( e.g. Russell, 1980 and Magness, 1997) re-examined their chronology and redated the earthquake evidence. Russell (1980) redated the two earthquake events to the northern Cyril Quake of 363 CE and the Monaxius and Plinta Quake of 419 CE while Magness (1997) concluded that there was no solid evidence for the existence of a Synagogue I on the site and evidence for an earthquake event in ~306 CE was lacking. She posited that Synagogue II was constructed in the late 4th to early 5th century CE and concluded that there was no solid evidence for the 419 CE (or 363 CE) earthquake as well. In Magness (1997) interpretation of the evidence, she suggested that the site had been abandoned when an earthquake brought down Synagogue II sometime before the 8th century CE.

Two sealed loci at the site provide a terminus post quem for the construction of Synagogue II. The latest coin found within a Bema was dated to 337-341 AD during the rule of Constans. The bema was described as "absolutely sealed by the stonework of the bema around and over it" where "contamination by later intrusions is virtually impossible" (Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange 1976:34). A declivity in the northwest corner of Synagogue II contained fill which was "sealed beneath more than a meter of debris, including large fallen architectural members" (Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange 1976: 34). Pottery within the fill below was described as homogeneous Middle-Late Roman. At the lowest levels a coin from Gratian (who ruled from 367-383 AD) was discovered. Meyers, Kraabel, and Strange (1976) interpreted the construction above the declivity to be part of a remodel. If we consider that construction above the declivity could also represent original construction, the terminus post quem for the construction of Synagogue II is between 337 and 383 AD. It is conceivable that Synagogue II was constructed over earthquake damaged remains of an earlier structure due to the presence of "battered architectural fragments built into Synagogue II (including those identified as belonging to the "Torah shrine") (Magness, 1997:216) however, as pointed out by Magness (1997) the provenance of these battered elements is unknown. They could come from another building. Nevertheless, this can be considered as possible archeoseismic evidence which predates the construction of Synagogue II. As for the causative earthquake(s), the Eusebius' Martyr Quake of ~306 AD and the Cyril Quake of 363 AD are both possibilities. Two other fills were examined (east and west of the Stylobate wall) but neither were sealed and neither added chronological precision to the construction of Synagogue II.

2nd Earthquake

Notes and Further Reading

References

Meyers, E. M., et al. (1972). "Archaeology and Rabbinic Tradition at Khirbet Shema: 1970 and 1971 Campaigns." The Biblical Archaeologist 35(1): 2-31.

Magness, J. (1997). "Synagogue typology and earthquake chronology at Khirbet Shema ‘, Israel." Journal of field archaeology 24(2): 211-220.

Meyers, E., Kraabel, A., Strange, J. (1976). Ancient synagogue excavations at Khirbet Shema, upper Galilee, Israel 1970-1972. [S.l.], American Schools of Oriental Research.

Russell, K. W. (1980). "The Earthquake of May 19, A.D. 363." Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research 238: 47-64.