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 Overview of ancient Gamla. The arrow points to the remains of
the synagogue.
Overview
The ancient city of Gamla
(also known as Gamala) is located in the lower Golan, on a steep ridge that rises to a
height of 330 meters above the surrounding terrain. The Jewish historian Josephus presents
the following description of the city:
From a lofty mountain there descends a rugged spur rising in the middle to a hump, the
declivity from the summit of which is of the same length before as behind, so that in form
the ridge resembles a camel; whence it derives its name, the natives pronouncing the sharp
sound of that word inaccurately. Its sides and face are cleft all round by inaccessible
ravines, but at the tail end, where it hangs on to the mountain, it is somewhat easier of
approach; but this quarter also the inhabitants, by cutting a trench across it, had
rendered difficult of access. The houses were built against the steep mountain flank and
astonishingly huddled together, one on top of the other, and this perpendicular site gave
the city the appearance of being suspended in air and falling headlong upon itself (BJ
4.5–6).
Sadly, Gamla is most remembered for the
catastrophic defeat it suffered at the hands of the Romans during the Jewish Revolt, since
Josephus—who witnessed the campaign as a captive of the Romans—describes the
battle for the city in vivid detail. Initially throwing in its lot with the Romans, Gamla
soon joined the rebel cause and was among the cities fortified by Josephus in 66 CE.
In 67, Roman forces besieged the city for seven months before finally breaching the
walls. According to Josephus, all the inhabitants and refugees (numbering 9,000) were
killed except for two women who had hid themselves during the ensuing slaughter.
Despite Gamla’s infamy, the site was not
excavated until 1976, owing to the fact that earlier archaeologists had mistakenly
identified Gamla as Jamlieh, which is located some nine miles southeast of the current
site. Shmaryah Gutman, the director of the ongoing excavations at Gamla, made the present
identification of the city on the basis of a correspondence between the excavated remains
and Josephus’ description. The presence of the camel-back ridge, a citadel, a
breached wall, and thousands of Roman arrowheads and ballista stones (used in catapults)
makes the identification certain.
The area of the site covers some forty-five acres, of which
only two small sections—one on the east and one on the west—have currently been
excavated. Evidence uncovered so far suggests that the city was abandoned following the
Roman victory, since the latest coins found on the site date to 67 CE.
The building identified by Gutman as a synagogue was unearthed
in the first season of the excavation. Abutting the northeast wall of the city, the
rectangular structure measures 25.5 x 17 meters on the exterior and is aligned lengthwise
on a northeast to southwest axis (towards Jerusalem). The arrangement of the hall, with
its four rows of benches and intervening columns, is characteristic of the Galilean-type
synagogue, of which we have examples from both before and after 70 CE. The presence
of sacred Jewish art (a rosette with flanking palms) and an adjoining mikveh (ritual bath)
strengthen Gutman's identification, which has been accepted by the majority of
archaeologists.
View of the Gamla synagogue, looking east.
A wide-angle shot of the Gamla synagogue, looking south.
Overhead view of the synagogue relative to its position in the city wall.
A Bar Mitzvah being held at the remains of the Gamla synagogue.
Broken lintel of the Gamla synagogue, featuring a rosette flanked by palm trees (the
latter are only partially preserved). These motifs were found among the ruins of the
Temple mount in Jerusalem.
This lintel, similar to the one discovered in the synagogue, was found on the western
side of Gamla. This suggests that another synagogue lies buried somewhere in that section
of the city.
Detail on one of the capitals discovered in the synagogue.
Top plan of the Gamla synagogue complex, including mikveh. (Click image for more
detail.)
Drawing of the study room in the Gamla synagogue. (Click on image for more detail.)
Top plan of the mikveh (A) and otsar (B) adjoining the Gamla synagogue. (Click
image for more detail.)
Drawing of the Gamla synagogue's ancillary rooms, which comprise a portion of the city
wall. (Click image for more detail.)
Other Sites Devoted to Gamla
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