The Old Synagogue

About all I know about history is that what once was isn't now, at least not like it was. From a brochure of this place I read that the synagogue was built at the beginning of the third century CE in the shape of a trapezoid and had a black and white mosaic floor. Later it was repaired and remodeled and a new mosaic floor added. The synagogue as we see it now was built in the mid-fifth century. It was finally destroyed around 530 CE during the reign of JustinianI.

Part of the floor was accidentally discovered in 1965.

The minute I saw this plant I thought, it looks like a giant milkweed. And when I broke off a piece of a leaf it sure enough had milky juice in it. It's actually a Sodom Apple, and is related to a milkweed.

Biggest milkweed I have ever seen.

Most people don't come here to see milkweeds (I do), but rather this:

A miqveh, for ceremonial bathing.
Not a rug. Pieces of stone.

Mosaic floor with birds. (I don't think it was really quite this shiny--the camera thought it was.)

In part of the mosaic are listed names from Adam to Jacob, and also Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and also the names of the signs of the zodiac, and a curse on those who start quarrels, et al.

Two layers of floor.

Number 8 shows the location of the Holy Ark. Number 9 is the "seat of Moses."

Looking out of the tent you can see remains of little buildings. I'd love to be an archaeologist and pick away one pebble at a time to see what else can be found.

The fence around it is made of wire with rushes or something planted in it.

Owl made out of mud.

Kitchenware.

Something made out of a palm leaf.

I was trying to take a picture of this little bird, but when I looked at the picture I noticed the bags. Any guesses what they're for?