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Syria: The ciborium niche in the western wall. Fresco from Dura Europos synagogue, c.250 CE

Syria: The ciborium niche in the western wall. Fresco from Dura Europos synagogue, c.250 CE

The Dura Europos synagogue is an ancient synagogue uncovered at Dura-Europos, Syria, in 1932. The last phase of construction was dated by an Aramaic inscription to 244 CE, making it one of the oldest synagogues in the world. It is unique among the many ancient synagogues that have emerged from archaeological digs as it was preserved virtually intact, and it has extensive figurative wall-paintings. These frescoes are now displayed in the National Museum of Damascus.

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