1. Diversity in the Ancient Synagogue of Roman-Byzantine Palestine

Abstract

Lee I. Levine’s ‘Diversity in the Ancient Synagogue of Roman-Byzantine Palestine: Historical Implications’ addresses the variety of synagogues in Late Antiquity. Levine criticizes the hypothesis of a linear development of synagogue types and shows that there was a great deal of diversity in synagogue art, architecture, and even liturgy throughout Late Antiquity. Furthermore, the number and size of synagogues suggests a thriving Jewish community even after the Christianization of the Roman Empire, a time that has been normally viewed as one of steady decline for the Jews.