The Theodotos Inscription: the Most Ancient Synagogue in Jerusalem

Theodotos, son of Vettanos, a priest and an archisynagogos (head of the synagogue), son of an archisynagogos grandson of an archisynagogos, built the synagogue for the reading of Torah and for teaching the commandments; furthermore, the hostel, and the rooms, and the water installation for lodging needy strangers…

THE THEODOTOS INSCRIPTION

In the picture: The Theodotos son of Vettanos inscription describes an active synagogue in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period. The synagogue building was not discovered; however, the inscription, found in the early twentieth century by Raymond Weill in the southern part of the city of David, tells of the synagogue’s function as a place for the study of Torah and observance of the commandments (but not for public prayer, for which there were other structures).
Alongside the synagogue were an inn and water installations for the use of guests. This is the earliest evidence of a synagogue in Jerusalem in Second Temple times, and it joins evidence of other synagogues in the country during that period.