Hurvat Amudim
Encyclopedia
Hurvat Amudim or Sde Amudim was an ancient village, now an archaeological site
, in Israel
, located south-east of the Beit Netofa Valley
, on the eastern side of Highway 65
between Golani junction
and Kadarim junction. Its current name derives from the columns that once supported the roof of the synagogue and that remained standing.
G.Dalman suggested identifying the site with Kfar Uziel, mentioned in rabbinical sources, home to one of the 24 priestly families
that settled in the Galilee
from the 2nd century CE onward. The town was abandoned in the late 4th century.
, one of the largest in the Galilee
(25 x 14 meters), was built at the end of the 3rd century or the beginning of the 4th century. The building featured two rows of columns. An Aramaic inscription in the floor mosaic
reads: "Remembered well... bar Tanhum, who made this pavement of mosaic and roof. May he be blessed. Amen. Selah." A second inscription reads, "Yo'ezer the hazan and Simeon his brother made this gate of the Lord of Heaven."
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
, in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, located south-east of the Beit Netofa Valley
Beit Netofa Valley
The Beit Netofa Valley is a valley in the Lower Galilee region of Israel, midway between Tiberias and Haifa. Covering 46 km2, it is the largest valley in the Galilee and one of the largest in the southern Levant...
, on the eastern side of Highway 65
Highway 65 (Israel)
Highway 65 is a major highway in northern Israel. It connects Hadera with the Galilee.This road is the shortest and simplest way to connect these two major regions. Historically, people traveled on or near this route for thousands of years from the coastal plain to reach the Galilee, and beyond...
between Golani junction
Golani Junction
Golani Junction , known as Maskana Junction in Arabic, is a key road junction in the Lower Galilee region of northern Israel, located east of Haifa and west of Tiberias, at the intersection of highways 65 and 77. The Golani Brigade Museum commemorating the Golani Brigade is situated there...
and Kadarim junction. Its current name derives from the columns that once supported the roof of the synagogue and that remained standing.
G.Dalman suggested identifying the site with Kfar Uziel, mentioned in rabbinical sources, home to one of the 24 priestly families
Priestly divisions
The priestly divisions or sacerdotal courses are ritual work groups in Judaism originally formed during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE as documented in the biblical passage of 1 Chronicles 24. These priests were all descendants of Aaron, known also as Aaronites. Aaron had four...
that settled in the Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
from the 2nd century CE onward. The town was abandoned in the late 4th century.
Synagogue
A synagogueSynagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, one of the largest in the Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
(25 x 14 meters), was built at the end of the 3rd century or the beginning of the 4th century. The building featured two rows of columns. An Aramaic inscription in the floor mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
reads: "Remembered well... bar Tanhum, who made this pavement of mosaic and roof. May he be blessed. Amen. Selah." A second inscription reads, "Yo'ezer the hazan and Simeon his brother made this gate of the Lord of Heaven."