Jewish Roots In Anatolia

Based on evidence, it is said that Sardis, near today’s Izmir in Turkey, is the first important Jewish settlement in the region and goes back to the fourth century BC. Excavations here and there have proven that many synagogues were built in those times, the one in Sardis dating back to 220 BC, being the biggest. Some other sites also may be added to that list: Akmoneia, Pergamon, Tralleis, Ephesus, all situated in Western Anatolia.

Later came the Roman of invasion of Asia Minor starting from 188 BC which ended with Jerusalem’s capture in 70 AD. That was “when everything started”, for the Jews that were to move from place to place, from continent to continent, for the next 20 centuries.

Asia Minor was one of the destinations settled by Jews kicked out from their homeland. It’s known that well integrated, vibrant Jewish life was present during the Roman and later the Byzantine era. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Leodekeia were sites where Jewish population were living. However, one should also note that these sites were where the early form of Christianity was seen. Thus, it will not be wrong to say that the Jewish population served as a stimulus on the first steps of Christianity despite the strong measures taken by the Roman authorities.

This was true not only for the Western part of Asia Minor but also for the southern cities like Alexandretta, Antioch and Tarsus, home to the activities where Jesus’s legacy was first to spread.

Jewish born and Jewish sainted Jesus, obviously would have an audience among the Jewish population of Anatolia. However, it would be impossible to think that all Jews were converted to Christianity or that every Christian was a Jew at his / her origin.