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The oldest original synagogue building in the Diaspora: the Delos synagogue reconsidered
Hesperia, Fall, 2004 by Monika Trumper
[FIGURES 14-17 OMITTED]
But why was the east wall remodeled in such a careful manner? With its three doorways it was certainly the most fragile wall of A/B and, therefore, most prone to collapse. Obviously, the enlargement of the wall is a response to this danger and not the result of a change in roofing--the other walls were not reinforced at the same time, so the roof could not have been raised appreciably. It is equally unlikely that the addition of a roofed portico required the enlargement of the east wall, for such a portico would have extended farther south (see below, pp. 562, 564) to front the D-complex, the east wall of which seems not to have been enlarged at the same time. It is usually assumed that the wall was destroyed, for example, during the Mithridatic raids and, therefore, needed repair. But this cannot be proven because further evidence for destruction is missing, and the extent of the devastation effected by Mithridates' troops in Delos is unknown. (46) Thus, the reason for the remodeling must remain uncertain; only its date and the manner in which it was done can be determined.
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GRANITE WALLS
The granite wall system comprised several walls that were almost entirely composed of irregular large granite blocks:
1. The north wall of courtyard C, which abuts stucco at the northeast corner of A (Figs. 14-16). (47) If this corner belongs to the first gneiss building, the north wall could have been added in a second phase; otherwise, it must have been built after the installation of the marble spoil wall.
2. The east wall of the D-complex (D3/D7), which seems to have been completely rebuilt (Fig. 18). (48) Even though it is clearly bonded with the south wall of D7, the way in which it was joined with the southeast corner of B cannot be judged (as above, Fig. 17). As in the case of the north wall of courtyard C, whether this wall was established before or after the remodeling of the east wall of A/B remains an open question. The north wall of D7, which is bonded with the west facade of the D-complex, abuts the east wall, but not the stucco that is preserved on the west face of that wall in D3. Therefore, the north wall of D7 is not later than the east wall, but contemporaneous or--because the two walls are not bonded--earlier.
3. The south wall of the D-complex (D6/D7). The wall is bonded with the south wall of courtyard C and the east wall of D7, but seems to be abutted by the west wall of D6 (Figs. 19, 20). (49) That its orientation differs considerably from that of the other walls can only be noted, not explained. (50)
[FIGURES 19-20 OMITTED]
4. The south wall of courtyard C, including an entrance that was flanked by two monolithic granite jambs (Figs. 20, 21). (51) The granite threshold is barely visible today because one of the jambs has collapsed and now blocks the doorway. Two shallow cuttings on its north edge suggest that a block was added to form a lower step that would have had a set of pivot and bolt holes. In this way, the door could have been closed properly from the courtyard, clearly indicating that the wall was the south limit of the building. This was doubtless an entrance from the outside, from some public space into the building. (52) Yet its modest construction suggests that this was only a side entrance, conveniently placed in proximity to the possible "service" area D1-D7. A carefully planned hierarchy of doorways within this building is attested by the fact that the only two preserved posts of the doorways to A/B and between A and B are of marble. (53)
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