The remnants of a Second Temple era synagogue have been uncovered in Russia, according to a Tuesday archaeological news release.The remains of a synagogue from the time of the Second Temple were discovered in the ancient Grecian city of Phanagoria, located in what is today Southwestern Russia between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.The finding marks the discovery of one of the world’s oldest synagogues and, according to analysis of fragments found at the site, it likely stood for over half a millennium after being constructed around the beginning of the first century BCE.
Among the findings were the remains of several menorahs that were clearly depicting the menorah in the Temple.
There has been somewhat of a controversy in Jewish circles about whether the Temple menorah had rounded or straight branches. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, apparently based on a drawing by Maimonides, had insisted that the menorah had diagonal straight branches.
But there are numerous examples of depictions of the menorah that date from when the Temple existed, or shortly thereafter, and are - as far as I can tell - consistent in showing the menorah with rounded branches.
This Hasmonean coin dates from Second Temple times:
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And, of course, the most famous depiction is in the Arch of Titus, celebrating the looting of the Temple.
Now this new discovery adds even more proof that the Temple menorah had rounded branches, based on artwork of people who lived while the Temple existed.
The earliest (possible) menorah I can find with straight branches comes from a piece of pottery discovered on the Temple Mount from Byzantine times, hundreds of years after the destruction:
