Concept

Magdala Stone

Q: Was Mary Magdalene a real person from a real town?

Yes. Magdala (Hebrew Migdal, "Tower", also called Migdal Nuniya, "Tower of Fish") is a real town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, just north of Tiberias. The town is named in the Gospels as Mary Magdalene's home town. The 1st-century AD remains of the town, including the synagogue with the Magdala Stone, have been excavated and are on view at the Magdala Center.

Intro

In 2009, archaeologists excavating the ancient town of Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee uncovered a 1st-century AD synagogue. In the middle of the synagogue floor was a unique limestone block, approximately 60 cm × 50 cm × 40 cm, carved on all four sides and on the top with the most elaborate Second Temple Jewish religious iconography ever recovered from a Galilean site. The carvings include a seven-branched menorah (the menorah of the Jerusalem Temple), a chariot (likely a representation of the divine throne), and architectural motifs of the Second Temple.

Magdala is the town where Mary Magdalene came from. The synagogue is one of only seven from the time of Christ confirmed in Galilee, and it was in active use during the years Jesus ministered in the region. The stone is the most spectacular single material find of recent decades documenting Jewish synagogue practice during the years Jesus would have been teaching in synagogues across Galilee.

In full

The Magdala Stone is a unique limestone block from the central worship hall of the 1st-century AD synagogue at Magdala (Migdal) on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The stone is approximately 60 × 50 × 40 cm and is carved on all four sides and the top with elaborate religious iconography including a seven-branched menorah (the only known 1st-century AD depiction of the Jerusalem Temple menorah found in situ in a synagogue), a chariot or throne motif (possibly representing the merkavah divine-throne tradition of Ezekiel 1), architectural columns, and rosettes. The synagogue itself is one of only seven first-century AD synagogues confirmed in Galilee and one of the only ones in active liturgical use during the years of Jesus's ministry. The site is in present-day Migdal, just north of Tiberias, and is administered by the Magdala Center (Catholic). The stone is on display at the Magdala Center.

Discovery

Excavated 2009 by Dina Avshalom-Gorni and Arfan Najar of the Israel Antiquities Authority during a salvage excavation in advance of construction of the Magdala Center pilgrim accommodations. The synagogue was identified almost immediately by the characteristic stepped stone seating and the four-column central plan; the carved limestone block was found in situ in the center of the synagogue. The find was announced in 2010 and has been subject to continuing analysis and publication.

What it shows

Four significant attestations:

A 1st-century AD synagogue at Magdala in active use during Jesus's ministry. The synagogue was constructed and in active liturgical use during the period of Jesus's Galilean ministry (roughly AD 28-30). This is one of only seven first-century synagogues confirmed in Galilee (the others include Capernaum, Gamla, Magdala, Khirbet Qana, Khirbet Wadi Hamam, Khirbet Cana, and Khirbet Diab).
The home town of Mary Magdalene. Magdala (Hebrew Migdal, Greek Magdala, "Tower") is named multiple times in the Gospels as the home town of Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27.56; Mark 15.40; Luke 8.2; John 19.25; John 20.1-18). The synagogue is the building Mary Magdalene would have worshiped in before her encounter with Jesus.
Direct material evidence for Second Temple Jewish worship. The Magdala Stone's iconography (menorah; chariot/throne; architectural motifs) gives unprecedented visual documentation of Second Temple Jewish liturgical-architectural symbolism. The menorah carving is especially significant: it is one of the only 1st-century AD depictions of the Jerusalem Temple menorah found in situ in a synagogue context, predating the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.
Galilean synagogue diffusion. The Magdala finding, alongside the Capernaum and Gamla synagogues, decisively confirms that synagogue worship was widespread in 1st-century AD Galilee, in active use during Jesus's ministry. The Gospel narratives of Jesus teaching in synagogues across Galilee (Mark 1.21; Mark 1.39; Mark 6.2; Luke 4.16; etc.) fit a well-documented historical pattern.

Biblical references

Matthew 27.56, "among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee."
Mark 15.40, "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome."
Luke 8.2, "Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out."
John 19.25, at the cross, "Mary Magdalene."
John 20.1-18, Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb and the encounter with the risen Christ.
Mark 1.21, Mark 1.39, Mark 6.2, Luke 4.16, Jesus teaching in Galilean synagogues.

Evidential status

Well-established mainstream consensus. The Magdala synagogue is uncontested, dated to the 1st century AD (with some debate over precise dating within the period). The Magdala Stone's iconographic interpretation has been subject to ongoing scholarly analysis; the basic identification as a Second Temple Jewish liturgical artifact is uncontested. The synagogue's identification with the home town of Mary Magdalene is straightforward (the town's name and location match the Gospel references).

Common questions this page answers

Q: What is the Magdala Stone?

A unique 1st-century AD limestone block discovered in 2009 in the center of a Galilean synagogue at Magdala (modern Migdal), on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The block is carved on all four sides and the top with elaborate Second Temple Jewish religious iconography, including a seven-branched menorah (the Temple menorah), a chariot or throne motif, and architectural columns. It is the most spectacular single artifact recovered from a 1st-century Galilean synagogue context.

Q: Why is the Magdala Synagogue significant?

It is one of only seven first-century AD synagogues confirmed in Galilee and one of the few in active liturgical use during the years of Jesus's ministry (roughly AD 28-30). The Gospel narratives of Jesus teaching in synagogues across Galilee (Mark 1.21; Mark 1.39; Luke 4.16) fit the well-documented historical pattern the Magdala find confirms. The synagogue is also the building Mary Magdalene, who came from Magdala, would have worshiped in before her encounter with Jesus.

Q: Was Mary Magdalene a real person from a real town?

Yes. Magdala (Hebrew Migdal, "Tower", also called Migdal Nuniya, "Tower of Fish") is a real town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, just north of Tiberias. The town is named in the Gospels as Mary Magdalene's home town. The 1st-century AD remains of the town, including the synagogue with the Magdala Stone, have been excavated and are on view at the Magdala Center.

Q: Where is the Magdala Stone today?

At the Magdala Center in modern Migdal, Israel, near Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Magdala Center is a Catholic-administered archaeological and pilgrimage site; the stone is on display alongside other artifacts from the synagogue excavations.

Q: Does the Magdala Stone confirm anything about the Bible?

It confirms several specific elements of the Gospel narrative context: Magdala as a substantial Jewish town with synagogue worship in active operation during Jesus's ministry; the home town of Mary Magdalene; the widespread diffusion of synagogue worship across 1st-century Galilee that the Gospel narratives presuppose. The menorah carving is also one of the only 1st-century AD depictions of the Jerusalem Temple menorah found in situ in a synagogue, predating the Temple's AD 70 destruction.