Page 56 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

42 Historical Review of 555, in which Christian churches were burned
and the provincial governor Stephanus was killed in
Fig. 45 his praetorium. In one of the mosaic inscriptions of
Hebrew inscription (restored), listing the 24 watches of the the synagogue mention is made of the head of the
priesthood that served in the Temple. After the destruction of synagogue (archisynagogos) and phrontistes (treasurer
the Second Temple such lists were used as a calendar for the rite or administrator) Beryllos, who paid for the mosaic
conducted in the synagogues. The three fragments presented in floor from his own purse. Also found were fragments
the inscription were discovered in the excavations in Caesarea of a list of the twenty four Watches of the Priests
(Fig. 45). One may learn of the Jewish community
also from the testimony of tombstones, mostly in
Greek, from the Later Roman and Byzantine period,
originating in the large cemetery that extended to the
east of the city. The inscriptions give names and titles
of Jews, such as Antoninus and Cyros sons of Samuel,
Leah daughter of Benjamin, Megas son of Zereca
who makes Babylonian shoes (i.e., a shoemaker), or
garments; Maria and Lazar; Simon son of Jacob son of
(?) Menah. em; Judah. Among the titles are h.azan and
kohen (hiereus). Distinct Jewish symbols appear on
the gravestones (Figs. 46a–c). Evidence of a second
synagogue was recently found by Peter Gendelman
of the Israel Antiquities Authority in one of the

a Fig. 46a–c
Jewish tombstones decorated
with a seven-branched
menorah, a lulav, a shofar,
and a shovel
a. The tomb of the priests of
Ma… and Elias (and?) …
ema (Greek, CIIP II. 1504)

b b. The tomb of Alaftha (son
of) Amb… (Greek, CIIP II.
1445)

c. This grave (is) of Shalom
son/daughter of … or:
Peace on Israel (Hebrew,
CIIP II. 1549)

Fig. 47
c Tombstone of Antoninus. In the relief the deceased is presented

as eating while reclining on a couch in front of which is a three-
legged table (tripod), with refreshments on it (CIIP II. 1454)