Magdala was an ancient city on the eastern shore of Lake Kinneret, several miles north of Tiberias. Today, if you visit the area, you will find the ancient city has been excavated and the ruins of the city reveal volumes of information about Jewish life in the first century in this area.
Magdala is in my top 5 favorite spots for New Testament insight. It is one of the few places in Israel where you can say with almost certainty that Jesus was here. In fact, he may have been here many times during his life and ministry. He may have even read and taught in this very synagogue.
Magdala 1st Century Synagogue
Magdala 1st Century Synagogue
As the pictures above reflect, the synagogue is largely intact. It was never built over, it appears much as it would have in the 1st century when Jesus of Nazareth would have visited and probably taught there on a Sabbath.
One of the the significant artifacts found at the site was a box (see images above) on which there were carvings of the menorah in the Temple. It was likely that there were members of the priestly family in Magdala who would have served in the Temple and been familiar with the menorah.
Mosaic on the floor of 1st Century Synagogue in Magdala
Plaster on walls with decoration from 1st Century Synagogue in Magdala
Plastering of a pillar from the 1st Century Synagogue in Magdala
Mosaic from the floor of 1st Century Synagogue in Magdala
