Tiberias-Hammat - Synagogue 
Immediately south of the spa treatment center in Tiberias-Hammat is the entrance to an excavation site whose main attraction is a synagogue with a well preserved mosaic pavement. The archeological park is entered through a small museum containing exhibits of folk and religious interest.
There was a synagogue on this site in the third or fourth century, and in the sixth or seventh century a new synagogue was built over its remains, on a higher level.
There was a synagogue on this site in the third or fourth century, and in the sixth or seventh century a new synagogue was built over its remains, on a higher level.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Both synagogues were three-aisled. On the south side of the earlier one is a square recess for the Torah shrine; the later one has a semicircular apse.
Of particular importance is the completely preserved mosaic pavement of the older synagogue, which is unusual in having figural representations. The mosaics in the lateral aisles have simple ornamental designs, but the mosaic in the central aisle is richly patterned. It consists of three parts. At the near end is a dedicatory inscription which mentions the name of one Severus, son of the head of the Sanhedrin: a Roman name, which, like the use of the Greek alongside the Hebrew script and the figural representations in the main part of the mosaic, betray the influence of Hellenistic and Roman culture even on pious Jews during this period. In the center of the principal mosaic is a head-and-shoulders figure of the sun god Helios surrounded by the signs of the Zodiac and, in the corners, the four Seasons. At the south end a Torah shrine is depicted between two seven-branched candlesticks, along with incense scoops and shofars (rams' horns). The themes of these mosaics are very similar to those of the mosaics at Bet Alfa, but the Hammat mosaics are of distinctly higher artistic quality.
Of particular importance is the completely preserved mosaic pavement of the older synagogue, which is unusual in having figural representations. The mosaics in the lateral aisles have simple ornamental designs, but the mosaic in the central aisle is richly patterned. It consists of three parts. At the near end is a dedicatory inscription which mentions the name of one Severus, son of the head of the Sanhedrin: a Roman name, which, like the use of the Greek alongside the Hebrew script and the figural representations in the main part of the mosaic, betray the influence of Hellenistic and Roman culture even on pious Jews during this period. In the center of the principal mosaic is a head-and-shoulders figure of the sun god Helios surrounded by the signs of the Zodiac and, in the corners, the four Seasons. At the south end a Torah shrine is depicted between two seven-branched candlesticks, along with incense scoops and shofars (rams' horns). The themes of these mosaics are very similar to those of the mosaics at Bet Alfa, but the Hammat mosaics are of distinctly higher artistic quality.
