Beth Alpha

Other Name: Beit Alpha, Beth Alfa, Beit Alfa
Religion: Jewish

Archaeological Evidences:

Period: Late Roman and/or Byzantine
Excavation: Excavated
Excavators: Eliezer Sukenik (1929)
Main Finds: Basilica building with apse. Complete mosaic floor with Zodiac, Biblical and other themes.
Inscriptions: Hebrew and Aramaic (Naveh 1978: 72-76), Greek (Roth-Gerson 1987: 29-32)
Mosaics: yes
Site Condition: National park with entrance fee
General view - Gilead Peli all rights reserved

Geographic Details

Geographical Region: Beth Shean Valley
Longitude: 35.42809135
Latitude: 32.51952397
הידידות 600, בית אלפא, ישראל

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Selected Bibliography:

Selected Bibliography
  1. Wischnitzer, R. "The Meaning of the Beth-Alpha Mosaic" Bulletin of the Israel Exploration Society 18, 1954: 190-197.
  2. Avigad, N. "Beit Alpha" The New Encyclopedia of Archeological Excavations in the Holy Land. Jerusalem, 1993: 190-192.
  3. Spigel, C.S. Ancient Synagogue Seating Capacities. Tubingen, 2012: 154-158.
  4. Sukenik, E.L. The Ancient Synagogue of Beth 'Alpha. Jerusalem, 1932.

Photos:

Photos
General view - Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
General view - Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Mosaic, upper part - Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Mosaic, upper part - Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Mosaic, lower part and inscriptions - Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Mosaic, lower part and inscriptions - Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Sukenik 1930: 111 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Synagogue | Sukenik 1930: 111
Sukenik 1930: 113 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Zodiac | Sukenik 1930: 113
Sukenik 1930: 114 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Mosaic with Hebrew Inscription | Sukenik 1930: 114
Sukenik 1930: 115 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Aramaic and Greek inscriptions | Sukenik 1930: 115
Sukenik 1930: 116 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Aramaic inscription | Sukenik 1930: 116
Wischnitzer 1954:194. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Mosaic | Wischnitzer 1954:194. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Wischnitzer 1954:196. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Zodiac | Wischnitzer 1954:196. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

Plans:

Plans
Plan Sukeinik 1932: plate 6 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Plan Sukeinik 1932: plate 6
Plan Sukeinik 1932: plate 27 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Plan Sukeinik 1932: plate 27
Isometric plan, Sukeinik 1932: plate 3 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Isometric plan, Sukeinik 1932: plate 3
Reconstruction, Sukeinik 1932: plate 7 © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Reconstruction, Sukeinik 1932: plate 7

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The Bornblum Chair in Land of Israel Studies

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