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Archaeologists Uncovered a Part of the Great Synagogue in Vilnius

News Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is an ancient city that still hides many of its landmarks. Archaeologists do not stop excavations in the city, so fans of ancient landmarks have one more reason to visit Vilnius again. Works never stop in the Vilna complex as this is the location of some of the oldest buildings. By the way, hotels in Vilnius Old Town provide guests with fast and simple access to this and other historic landmarks of the capital.

In the past, Vilna complex was one of the most important centers of the Jewish religion in the region, but its heart, the Great Synagogue, remained under the ground for many years. Thanks to the efforts of a group of archaeologists, it became possible to find and uncover one of the two most sacred parts of the building. They excavated two of the four pillars of the pulpit.

The pillars were 9 meters tall and were placed at the part of the synagogue where rabbis were standing during the service. Besides that, archaeologists found a cellar with 300 coins inside, writings near Bimah, tiles that date back to the 16th century, and a Mikva pool. Coins are of different age, starting from the 17th century to the 20th century. Writings feature quotes from the Old Testament.

The Great Synagogue of Vilna was an important center of Jewish culture in Europe. Some even called Vilnius, which name is written as Vilna in Hebrew, the Jerusalem of the North. The stone synagogue that archaeologists uncover now was built at the start of the 17th century. It replaced an ancient wooden synagogue. The area quickly became the heart of the region’s Jewish community, and many supporting buildings appeared nearby. They included a community center, 12 small synagogues used for studying (Kloiz), and a bathhouse. The buildings were severely damaged during WWII, and the Soviet government built a kindergarten on top of the ruins in the 60s of the previous century.

Archaeological excavations on the site started in 2011. It is already possible to see a part of Bimah, two Mikvas, fragments of a wall, and floor. Researchers hope to find Aron Kodesh (an arc with Torah scrolls) soon. The Vilnius city municipality has plans of renovating the area once the excavations are finished. Jewish street restoration plans are already set. The municipality also has a range of interesting events and tours to the historic sites, so this is one more reason to find a hotel in Vilnius and enjoy a short city vacation in this European capital.

21.07.2019

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