Samara

Religion: Samaritan

Archaeological Evidences:

Period: Late Roman and/or Byzantine
Excavation: Excavated
Excavators: Yizhak Magen (1991-1992)
Main Finds: Samaritan. Narthex, benches and mosaic.
Mosaics: Yes
Site Condition: Open to the public. Security forces should be contacted for visit.

Geographic Details

Geographical Region: Samaria

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Selected Bibliography:

Selected Bibliography
  1. Magen, Y. "Samaritan Synagogues" in Ancient Synagogues Revealed: 1981-2022. ed. L. I. Levine, Z. Weiss, U. Leibner, Jerusalem, Israel Exploration Society, 2023: 188-197.
  2. Magen, Y. The Samaritans and the Good Samaritan. Jerusalem, 2008: 142-167.
  3. Avital, A. "The Originality of the Unique Agricultural Motifs at the Samaritan Synagogue of Samara" Judea and Samaria Research Studies 24, 2015: 145-163, (Hebrew).
  4. Magen, Y. The Samaritans and the Good Samaritan. Jerusalem, 2008: 142-167.
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 14 June 2026, https://synagogues.kinneret.ac.il/synagogues/samara/

Photos:

Photos
General view looking east - Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
General view looking east - Gilead Peli all rights reserved
General view - Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
General view - Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Western entrance - Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Western entrance - Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Fragment of mosaic,The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Fragment of mosaic,The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Fragment of mosaic, The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Fragment of mosaic, The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Fragment of mosaic, The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Fragment of mosaic, The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Fragment of mosaic, The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Fragment of mosaic, The Museum of the Good Samaritan, Gilead Peli all rights reserved
Magen 1992: 74. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Aerial Photograph of the Synagogue- View from South-East | Magen 1992: 74. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 73. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Aerial Photograph of the Synagogue- View from West | Magen 1992: 73. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 75. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Hall, Narthex and Atrium of the Synagogue- View from West. | Magen 1992: 75. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 76. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
General View of the Synagogue- View from East. | Magen 1992: 76. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 76. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Apse and an Earlier Phase's Mosaic Floor- | Magen 1992: 76. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 76. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Rooms at the Southern Part of the Synagogue- | Magen 1992: 76. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 77. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Hall after lifting the Mosaic floor- Downwards- Stone floor of an Earlier Structure. Upwards- Stone floor that covered the Mosaic Floor | Magen 1992: 77. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Earlier and Later Floors and the Holy Ark | Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Mosaic Floor | Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Mosaic Floor | Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Hall and the Holy Ark | Magen 1992: 78. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 79. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Moasic Floor- Sketch | Magen 1992: 79. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 79. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
The Holy Ark Painting at the Mosaic floor | Magen 1992: 79. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 80. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Holy Ark Relief from the Apse | Magen 1992: 80. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 80. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Capital | Magen 1992: 80. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

Plans and Drawings:

Plans
coutesy of Dvir Raviv © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
coutesy of Dvir Raviv
© <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Magen 1992: 74. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Plan | Magen 1992: 74. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society
Magen 1992: 74. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society © <i> synagogues.kinneret.ac.il </i>
Reconstruction | Magen 1992: 74. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society

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