Greek and Latin Inscription from Lower Egypt
2nd or 1st Century BCE
On the orders of the Queen and King, in place of the previous tablet concerning the dedication of the prayer hall [proseuchē], let the following be written: King Ptolemy Euergetes proclaimed the prayer hall [proseuchē] inviolate. The Queen and King issued the order.
Source: JIGRE 125 / CIJ 2.1449
This Greek inscription from Lower Egypt is one of a number of Egyptian Jewish dedicatory inscriptions for proseuchai, or prayer halls. Proseuchai seem to have served as focal points for the Jewish communities in Egypt and are among the earliest known examples of Jewish buildings for communal gathering and prayer, which came to be called synagogues. Inscriptions like this one highlight the good standing of many Egyptian Jewish communities and the close ties they had to the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Places:
Related Guide
Proseuchē Inscriptions
Related Guide
Early Evidence for the Synagogue
Primary sources and archaeological remains, such as inscriptions, document the earliest Jewish communal worship spaces.
Related Guide
The Ancient Synagogue
Ancient synagogues served as central hubs for Jewish prayer, study, and community life. Archaeological evidence and primary texts reveal the evolution of these sacred spaces from the Hellenistic era to Late Antiquity.
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