Migdal

Other Name: Magdala, Taricheae

Religion: Jewish

Archaeological Evidences:

Period: Early Roman

Excavation: Excavated

Excavators: Dina Avshalom-Gorni and Arfan Najjar (2009-2017)

Main Finds: Columns, benches, mosaic and stone with menorah.

Mosaics: Yes

Site Condition: Tourist site. Entrance Fee.

Geographic Details

Geographical Region: Lower Galilee

90, מגדל, ישראל

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Selected Bibliography:

Selected Bibliography

Ryan, J. J. and Zapata-Meza, M. "A Study of Magdala's First Synagogue: Identification Layout, and Context of the Synagogue Discovered in 2009" in Ancient Magdala: Archaeological Excavations (2010-2017). ed. M. Zapata-Meza, I: Daily Life, First Interpretations, Oxford, Archaeopress, 2025: 25-48.
Weiss, Z. "The “Magdala stone table”: its function and role in determining the liturgical furniture in the ancient synagogue" in A Vision of the Days: Studies in Early Jewish History and Historiography in Honor of Daniel R. Schwartz. ed. R. Brody et. al., Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism Vol. 213, Leiden/Boston, Brill, 2024: 699-725, (Hebrew).
Talgam, R. and Avshalom-Gorni, D. From the Magdala Stone to the Syriac Bema: Mutual Influences between the Liturgical Space in the Early Synagogue and Church. Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism Vol. 218, Leiden/Boston, Brill, 2025.
Cirafesi, W. V. "“Mystical Spirituality” in Second Temple Period Judaism? Light from the Decorated Stone in the Magdala Synagogue" Religions 13 (1218), 2022.
Avshalom-Gorni, D. , Najar, A. and Talgam, R. "A Second Temple-Period Synagogue in the Northern Part of Magdala" in Ancient Synagogues Revealed: 1981-2022. ed. L. I. Levine, Z. Weiss, U. Leibner, Jerusalem, Israel Exploration Society, 2023: 78-88.
Weiss, Z. "The “Magdala Stone Table”: Its Function and Role in Determining the Liturgical Furniture in the Ancient Synagogue" Journal of Roman Archaeology 34 (2), 2021: 608-631.
Bauckham, R. "Further Thoughts on the Migdal Synagogue Stone" in Novum Testamentum. 57,2, 2015: 113 – 135.
Fine, S. "From Synagogue Furnishing to Media Event: The Magdala Ashlar Ars Judaica" in The Bar Ilan Journal of Jewish Art. 13, 2017: 27-38.
Hachlili, Rachel "The Migdal stone and its ornamentation" in Revue Biblique. 124,2, 2017: 245-272.
Aviam, M. "The Decorated Stone from the Synagogue at Migdal; A Holistic interpretation and a Glimpse into the Life of Galilean Jews at the Time of Jesus" Novum Testamentum 55 2013: 205-220.

Bibliographic citation of this page

Ben David, C. Osband, M. Aviam, M. Site: ‘Synagogues.Kinneret.ac.il’, The Bornblum Eretz Israel Website for the Study of Ancient Synagogues, accessed on 23 November 2025, https://synagogues.kinneret.ac.il/synagogues/migdal/

Photos:

Photos

Fine 2017: Fig.1. Courtesy of Steven Fine © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Magdala- The Synagogue. | Fine 2017: Fig.1. Courtesy of Steven Fine

Fine 2017: Fig. 2. courtesy of R. Steven Notley © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Magdala Ashlar- front and upper panel. | Fine 2017: Fig. 2. courtesy of R. Steven Notley

Fine 2017: Fig. 3. courtesy of R. Steven Notley © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Magdala Ashlar- Side Panel | Fine 2017: Fig. 3. courtesy of R. Steven Notley

Fine 2017: Fig. 4. courtesy of R. Steven Notley © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Magdala Ashlar- Rear Panel. | Fine 2017: Fig. 4. courtesy of R. Steven Notley

Fine 2017: Fig. 6. courtesy of Steven Fine © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Mosaic Pavement with a Rosette | Fine 2017: Fig. 6. courtesy of Steven Fine

Fine 2017: Fig. 7. Courtesy of Steven Fine © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Painted Plaster Fragments | Fine 2017: Fig. 7. Courtesy of Steven Fine

Fine 2017: Fig. 8. Courtesy of Steven Fine © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>

Painted Plaster Fragments. | Fine 2017: Fig. 8. Courtesy of Steven Fine

Plans and Drawings:

Plans

Links:

Links

Excavation summary

Magdala Archaeology Park

Magdala Stone Model - Popular Model