The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1921-01-26

versity in America with very consid-
cradle resources. is arranging to cX.
cavate here.
a very interesting discovery was
made at the close of the war near
Jericho, where the remains of an an
cient Jewish synagog, having mos
uic-paved floor with an inscription in
early Hebrew characters worked into
the pavement design. were found. The
excavation of this is to be completed
by the very learned Dominican arch
aeologists representing the French
School of Archaeology in Palestine. A
young and vigorous Jewish archaeo-
logical society is making prelimin-
airy examination of various sites OF
interest in Jewish history, notably
Atruf, Caesarea, and Tiberias. The
latter is proving to be Of particular
interest, and attention was directed to
it early after the British occupation,
numerous traces of ancient buildings
Of the period of the Talmud, just south
Of the town being brought TO light by
roadmakers and engineers in the
course of their duties. Overlooking
the northern shore of the Sea of Gal
lice are the very remarkable and in
teresting remains of an early Jewish
synagog.
1T is to be hoped that on the COM
pletion of the excavation steps will he
taken and the means forthcoming to
restore this ancienC building, of
which great portion of the masonry
is lying about, apparently as the re-
suit of some earthquake. Should it
be possible scientifically 60 reconstruct
the building it will prove q unique al.
dition to the wonders Of Palestine.
THE chief feature Of the last year
In the work of excavation has been
the opening Of the work at Ascalon,
which has been undertaken by the
Palestine Exploration Fund. The re-
suits are not yet published, but are of
remarkable promise. A very fine
building of Roman date-namely, Il
massive temple or forum built entirely
of Greek marble, possibly the Temple
of the Fortune or City Goddess, was
one of the wonders discovered. The
columns of this building weighed nine
tons each, and the capitals three tons. ,
The whole structure. both floors walls.
and columns, is entirely of marble. II
is to be presumed that the building
was prepared in one of the Greek is
lands and transhlppcd ready for coil
struction to Ascalon during the first
or second century Of our era. Traces
tioned in one of the early writer's, pos
sibly n remnant of the earlier sacred
lake Of the famous goddess Derceta.
'Ascalon was the home of HerOd
the Great, and we are told in early
literature that he greatly embellished
the city with splendid colonnades. l.
will in time be possible to recognize
these. One of the objects discovered
Is gigantic foot. measuring over q
yard from heel to toe. wearing a SAN
I,arb of n huge statue Of his time. The
chief interest to the scientific world
is the effort which the Palestine En-
ploration Fund is masking to recover
some tangible remains of the Phil
istines and their civilization. and it is
believed that the layers representing
this period have been located. rs well
as some objects illustrating their
civilization, Unfortunately the Phil
istine layer is at a great depth. five
to seven metres (16 it, 20 23 TT below
the surface. and all those interested
in the development Of our knowledge
of Palestine in Bible times must rea-
lie that the work Of the fund can
only be adequately done If adequate
ly supported"