Synagogue(s), Ephesus
Location map and aerial view of the possible synagogue. For a
larger view see our Ephesus Map or get our free Google Earth download.
larger view see our Ephesus Map or get our free Google Earth download.
It is well known that there was a substantial Jewish community in ancient Ephesus, but no synagogue has yet been located with any certainty.
A basilica-like building north of the Theater Gymnasium is a possible candidate for the synagogue, based on a Jewish lamp found here (which is the only lamp found in the building).
Another clue is an inscription in the nearby Church of Mary, which indicates there was a synagogue in Ephesus and may indicate one in the immediate vicinity. A glass bottle with a seven-branched candlestick was discovered in the church.
Travel Resources
- Ephesus Map - our detailed interactive map plus links to more
- Ephesus Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and day trips
- Kusadasi Hostels - search and book budget lodgings in nearby Kusadasi
- Kusadasi Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Car Rentals (from Kusadasi) - explore Turkey with your own car
- Ephesus Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Ephesus tourism
Article Sources
- Clive Foss, Ephesus After Antiquity (1979), 45.
- Jewish lamp: Ephesos IV/2, 187 no. 159.
- Bottle with candlestick symbol: Ephesos IV/1, 99 no. 30; Jh. 26, B41.
