Obj. ID: 4517
  Ancient Art  Ancient Synagogue Basilica in Stobi, North Macedonia

According to the National Institution Stobi, "This is an Early Christian Basilica located to the south of the Civil Basilica. The name of the building stems from the fact that below the Basilica there are remains of two older Synagogues. The excavations of the complex were done in 1931 and 1970 – 74. The first excavations in 1931 uncovered an inscribed column which reveals the fact that Claudius Tiberius Polycharmos, father of the Synagogue in Stobi, donated parts of his house for the needs of the temple. The excavations in the ‘70s, below the floor of the basilica, resulted with the discovery of two synagogues built one above the other. Synagogue II was erected towards the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 4th century AD while the older Synagogue I is from the 2nd century AD. The walls of Synagogue I had inscriptions: dedicated to the Father Polycharmos. After the destruction of Synagogue I the new Synagogue II was built. It was a larger temple with mosaic floors of geometrical motifs. The mortar on one of the walls had an inscribed menorah. During the conservation activities in 1994 a round marble plate was discovered. The plate has an inscription which reveals that Alexander phrontistes (guardian, curator of the synagogue) rebuilt the porch of the synagogue at the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 4th century AD."

http://www.stobi.mk/Templates/Pages/Excavations.aspx?page=176