Visiting Magdala

Magdala is an ancient fishing community situated at the base of Mount Arbel, on the Sea of Galilee. It is situated close to Capernium and the Mount of Beautitudes. This is the site of the oldest synagogue excavated in Galilee and a place where Yeshua surely taught and healed the multitudes, including Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) who made her hometown famous. The Magdala stone was discovered inside the First Century Syngague. The design appears to be a three-dimensional representation of the Second Temple of Jerusalem and includes the world’s oldest carved menorah. To see a short youtube presentation on Magdala from Archaeology News Network at https://youtu.be/fsjJW-EBb8g

The young boy with the fishes and loaves may have brought his fish from Magdala on his way to listen to the Sermon on the Mount.

Geographical location on Sea of Galilee

Uncovered steps

Steps to mikvah

Waterways bringing fresh water into mikvah

Still digging

A view of market place

Looking across the town to the synagogue

Then….

and Now…notice the rosetta design…the logo for Magdala.

Another view of synagogue

A group on tour from California

Mosaic still in pretty good shape

Jeff checking out the synagogue

One side of the Magdala stone. The tour guide said they would have put the Torah on this stone to read from it. “The intricate design appears to be a three-dimensional representation of the Second Temple of Jerusalem”.

Another view of the stone. Notice the Menorah which is the world’s oldest carved menorah. The Rosetta design on the top is the basis for Magdala’s logo and can be seen in the mosaic design in the synagogue.