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The oldest original synagogue building in the Diaspora: the Delos synagogue reconsidered
Hesperia, Fall, 2004 by Monika Trumper
It should be noted that (1) according to recent investigations, the level of the sea has risen 2-2.5 m since antiquity (Delos XXXIX, pp. 165-176); and (2) quite a dramatic and sudden rise in sea level was observed on the west side of the island, at the Pointe des pilastres, the Magasin des colonnes, and at the Magasin a la baignoire (GD 122), during the early excavations. The first observation suggests that the shoreline was probably farther east than it is today, meaning that there could have been space for, e.g., a road, promenade, or beach--or for an extension of GD 80 eastward. Yet in many cases the submerged constructions are still visible in the shallow water along the shoreline, as are, e.g., the walls just north of GD 80 (see above, n. 64). Given that on old maps and plans no walls are indicated just east of the building, it seems unlikely that much has vanished into the sea. The sudden rise of the sea in modern times has been due either to heavy winter storms in 1907, well before the excavation of the building, or perhaps to the fact that the rubble and debris of the early extensive excavations was thrown into the sea at the ancient Port sacre (thus forming the modern mole) and considerably altered the configuration of the western shore. Nothing similar was reported for the eastern shoreline. See Delos XXXIX, pp. 97-98, 168-169.
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(71.) As proposed by White (1987, pp. 150-152, n. 78, fig. 5). A column would not have been necessary because the east end of the portico could have been roofed without further supports (see Binder 1999, p. 310, n. 163). An extensive railing, on the other hand, probably would have left more evidence in the rock. The square bases with pylons that White cites as evidence for his theory are neither to be found in situ nor mentioned in any publication. Moreover, White provides no detailed description or photograph of these bases with pylons, he does not cite his source of information, and the bases and pylons do not appear in his conjectured restoration, fig. 5. Does he mean the "deux piliers de granit carres, assez minces" (see Plassart 1914, p. 523), which are the jambs of the doorway in the south wall of C?
(72.) Contrary to Binder 1999, p. 310, n. 163, these cuttings were neither observed by White nor are they "putative"; they are prominent on Bruneau's field plan (Bruneau 1970, pl. B), but Bruneau does not mention or explain them in his text. Today these cuttings are clearly visible because they were carved into rock that is slightly raised above the surroundings, thus not completely covered by pebbles and stones, and could be cleared easily (Figs. 24, 29). Farther south, the sea has buried everything with a thick layer of rocks and debris; therefore, no traces of an east facade, the limit of the building, or other cuttings in the rock can be detected. The function and context of the visible cuttings cannot be reconstructed, either. The central, rectangular cutting measures 0.56 m (E-W) x 0.58 m (N-S) and is ca. 0.05-0.06 m deep; the lateral round cuttings have diameters of 0.20 m (north) and 0.25 m (south) and are only 0.02-0.03 m deep. A small round hole with a diameter of 0.05 m lies 0.19 m east of the southeast corner of the rectangular cutting. All in all, the dimensions of the cuttings suggest that large, heavy objects could not have been fixed in them securely.
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