Limyra

Limyra

Limyra, Archaeologists excavating at the ancient city in southern Turkey recently uncovered the remains of an ancient synagogue, complete with a bath and menorah. Limyra was part of the Lycian League, a confederation of coastal cities considered one of the world’s first democracies before being annexed as a province of the Roman Empire. This is the second synagogue discovered in Lycia; the first was discovered in Myra (modern Demre), an ancient city often remembered as the home of St. Nicholas. Excavation director Martin Seyer believes that the discovery was part of a larger synagogue field, and it reflects a wide and rich Jewish population in Lycia.