The Medieval Synagogue of Molina de Aragón: Architecture and Decoration

Abstract

The remains of a medieval synagogue, in addition to numerous fragments of plaster decoration, have been found as a result of the excavation work done at the Prao de los Judíos archaeological site in the town of Molina de Aragón (Guadalajara, Spain). These remains suggest that the synagogue was built in the second half of the thirteenth century and that it was refashioned later in the fourteenth century following the same artistic model of the synagogues of Córdoba and El Tránsito. Based on comparative analysis, this article studies the Synagogue of Molina de Aragón in relation to other medieval Iberian synagogues.

Keywords

• medieval architecture
• medieval iberia
• kingdom of castile
• synagogue
• jewish art
• synagogue of molina de aragón