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The oldest original synagogue building in the Diaspora: the Delos synagogue reconsidered

Hesperia, Fall, 2004 by Monika Trumper

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(84.) The plain marble drum has only one (central) socket, so it could not have been fixed on the preserved stylobate slab; its preserved height is 0.56-0.60 m, the upper portion is broken, and the shaft is not very well finished. A photograph taken in 1913 shows this drum set up (by the excavators) on the step beneath the stylobate, and Binder (1999, p. 308, n. 161) conjectured that this was its findspot; see Plassart 1914, p. 525. In Bruneau 1970, pl. VIII, it is lying to the west of the stylobate. The fluted marble drums were already visible in 1700; see Plassart's comment and the photograph taken in 1912 (Plassart 1914, pp. 523, 524, respectively). White (1987, p. 150) states that fluted marble columns stood on the stylobate, and that "according to drums found in excavation, these columns would have measured ca. 45-55 cm. in diameter." It is not clear to which drums he refers: the fluted Corinthian drums, which are much larger, or the plain drum, which is definitely not fluted but is also larger than his supposed 0.45-0.55 m. In any case, White's reference (1987, p. 150) to Plassart 1914, p. 525, is incorrect, as has been observed also by Binder (1999, p. 308, n. 161).

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It is surprising that standard handbooks on Delian architecture, such as AHD and Delos XXXVI, do not discuss the Corinthian order and therefore the elements in question. According to Vitruvian standards, the column in GD 80 with a lower diameter of 0.82-0.90 m would have had a considerable height of 8-9 m, including capital (Vitr. 4.1.1, 8). Such a column cannot reasonably be assigned to any part of GD 80. At most, one might suggest a support in the large hall, A/B, but then there remains the question of what happened to this support when the hall was divided in the last phase, before the installation of the lime kiln. Below, data for each drum are given in the following order: preserved height; lower diameter; upper diameter; features on the lower surface, from the center outward; and features on the upper surface, also from the center outward. Measurements are approximate, as they exclude the flutes, which are heavily damaged; in addition, not all drums are fully exposed and accessible.

Drums:

1. 1.23 m; 0.82 m (0.90 m with flutes, each terminating in an apophyge at the bottom); 0.75 m (0.82 m with flutes); socket, anathyrosis; socket, pour-channel, anathyrosis.

2. 1.09 m; 0.76 m; 0.74 m; socket, anathyrosis; socket, pour-channel, anathyrosis.

3. 1.41 m; 0.74 m; 0.725 m; socket, anathyrosis; socket, pour-channel, anathyrosis.

4. 0.97 m; 0.72 m; 0.69 m; socket, anathyrosis; socket, pour-channel, anathyrosis.

5. 1.03 m; 0.69 m; 0.66 m; socket, anathyrosis; socket, pour-channel, anathyrosis.

These drums could have belonged to a single column. The Corinthian capital is heavily damaged. Its height is ca. 0.87 m; its lower diameter is not fully preserved but could have measured 0.64-0.72 m.

The oldest original synagogue building in the Diaspora: the Delos synagogue reconsidered

Hesperia, Fall, 2004 by Monika Trumper

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