A comparative architectural analysis of Eastern Mediterranean ancient synagogue buildings

When the Tannaitic literature and material cultural remains are followed, it is seen that the Jewish presence has been on the stage of history since antiquity. This long process has brought about the result that both the Jewish community and the synagogues, which are places of worship, have gone through different phases in different geographies. With the effect of the periods of exile, the Jewish identity has had to allow change and even transformation, sometimes in lifestyles and sometimes in places of worship. This thesis takes a holistic view of this change and transformation in Jewish identity in Late Antiquity before the 11th century AD. The boundaries of the Jewish traces are defined as the western and southern coasts of Anatolia and the Eastern Mediterranean geography covering Israel. The main material of the study is ancient synagogue structures. Ancient synagogue structures are examined in the light of archaeological data, ancient sources and epigraphic data uncovered as a result of archaeological excavations and surveys carried out in this geography. The phases of the ancient Jewish identity in two different geographies are elaborated in detail in terms of ancient synagogue structures and their similarities and differences are tried to be revealed. In order to make this comparison more understandable, current technologies have been utilised. It is aimed to contribute to the documentation of cultural heritage by transferring the data of the synagogue structures to the digital environment. It is aimed to draw attention to the importance of multidisciplinary work in the interpretation of the structures and to support the scientists who will work on the structures in the following periods by bringing restitution proposals by using virtual reconstruction methods.