Ancient Synagogue Inscription from Crocodilopolis, Egypt: 240 BC
Synagogue Inscriptions from the Oldest Synagogues in the world
Crocodilopolis, Egypt: 240 BC |
A. Synagogue Inscription:
1. Inscription text: “On behalf of King Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy & Queen Berenice his wife and sister and their children, the Jews in Crocodilopolis (dedicated) the Synagogue1.” [Lit. proseuche = house of prayer]
2. Glyptic Artifact: Greek Synagogue inscription on limestone
3. Provenance: Bought from dealer in Medinet el-Fayum, Egypt, 1939 AD
4. Current location: Current location is unknown.
5. Synagogue Occupation Date (SOD) = Excavation date + Inscriptional date + Literary date = 240 BC
a. SOD computation system details
b. Excavation date: none
c. Inscriptional date: 240 BC
d. Literary date: Crocodilopolis 113 BC and Crocodilopolis 113 AD
6. Contemporary Rulers: Ptolemy III Euergetes King of Ptolemy (246-222 BC)
7. References:
a. JIGRE: Jewish Inscriptions of Graeco-Roman Egypt, Hornbury/Noy, #117 1992 AD
b. CPJ: Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum, Tcherikover, vol 3, no. 3.1532a, 1964 AD
c. Photo: The Jews of Egypt: from Rameses II to Emperor Hadrian, Joseph Modrzejewski, p76-78, 1997 AD
8. Related Literary references:
a. Acts 16:13
b. Philo, Embassy 132-134
c. Josephus, Life 277
9. Further documentation and comments:
a. This is probably the same synagogue as in the papyrus inscriptions that dates to 113 BC and quite likely one of the two synagogues referenced in the papyrus inscription that dates to the time of Trajan in 113 AD.
c. Synagogue papyrus about Crocodilopolis 113 BC
b. This Synagogue papyrus references two different synagogues in 113 AD at the time of Trajan: Crocodilopolis 113 AD
B. Inscription footnotes:
1. Lit. proseuche = house of prayer, synagogue
By Steve Rudd 2017: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections
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By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
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