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The oldest original synagogue building in the Diaspora: the Delos synagogue reconsidered
Hesperia, Fall, 2004 by Monika Trumper
For the contested identification of theos hypsistos, see most recently Mitchell 1999 and Stein 2001a, 2001b. According to Mitchell, the abundant testimony to Zeus Hypsistos, Theos Hypsistos, and Hypsistos, which up to now has been interpreted as evidence of different religious beliefs, belonged to one single widespread cult of pagan-Jewish character. The worshipers of Theos Hypsistos were strongly influenced by Jews and "acquired many Jewish characteristics but did not contemplate full conversion" (Mitchell 1999, p. 127). But Mitchell's interpretation of GD 80 remains somewhat ambiguous: "On the strength of the last text [ID 2329, see following note] the structure has been interpreted as a synagogue used by the Jews on Delos. This is undoubtedly correct, but we should not neglect the point that the sanctuary is also a Greek one, containing dedications set up by persons with Greek names for Theos Hypsistos" (Mitchell 1999, p. 98). The theory of a general pagan-Jewish cult was strongly questioned by Stein (2001a, 2001b), who does not mention GD 80.
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(123.) The first is ID 2329; on a rectangular base of white marble without profile at bottom or top, but with a cutting in the top; base H. 0.345 m, L. 0.185 m, W. 0.17 m; first century B.C.; found in a house of the Quartier du stade (Ilot II, Maison A, GD 79b; see Fig. 1); for photographs see Bruneau 1970, pl. IX:4, and Bruneau 1982, p. 499, fig. 13; inscription: [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]. According to Plassart (1916, p. 242) and McLean (1996, p. 193), this marble base was originally situated in GD 80, but Bruneau (1982, pp. 499-502) argues that it was set up in this house, whose owners were Jewish.
The two stelai, dedicated by Samaritans to their benefactors, were found ca. 90 m north of GD 80, in an unexcavated area of the shoreline at the bottom of the outer face of a facade wall; they were published by Bruneau (1982, pp. 467-485):
1. Stele of white marble; upper part not preserved, back not smoothed; wreath in upper part; stele H. 0.48 m, W. 0.405 m at the bottom to 0.33 m at the top, Th. 0.11-0.075 m; 150-50 B.C.; inscription:
4 [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]
Translation (Bruneau 1982, p. 471): "The Israelites of Delos who make contributions to sacred Garizim crown with a gold crown Sarapion, son of Jason, from Knossos, for his benefactions toward them."
2. Stele of white marble; lower and upper parts not preserved, i.e., heavily mutilated, back not smoothed; wreath in upper part; stele H. 0.70 m, W. 0.56 m at the bottom to 0.53 m at the top; Th. 0.095-0.06 m; 250-175 B.C.; inscription:
[TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]
Translation (Bruneau 1982, p. 474): "[The] Israelites [of Delos] who make contributions to sacred and holy Garizim have honored Menippos, son of Artemidoros, from Herakleia, himself and his descendants, for having constructed and dedicated from his own funds as ex-voto [to God], the [- - - - - - -] and the [- - - - - and have crowned] with a gold crown and [- - -]."
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