The Great Synagogue of Vilna is yielding its secrets after decades of silence.

Built in the Renaissance-Baroque style in the 17th century, this magnificent synagogue stood at the heart of a thriving Jewish community until its destruction during World War II. Recent excavations spearheaded by the Israel Antiquities Authority in collaboration with Lithuanian organizations are gradually peeling back layers of its ancient history.

Among the most striking discoveries are intricately decorated floors featuring red, black, and white floral patterns. Archaeologists also uncovered a fallen giant pillar that once supported the synagogue’s Bimah. Adding to the visual narrative, sections of painted walls adorned with blue and red motifs have emerged.

Perhaps most impressive is the discovery of two massive water reservoirs which were once used to supply pure water to the synagogue’s mikvahs.

Lithuania’s Jewish community had developed a distinct culture, complete with its own Yiddish dialect. Vilnius, nicknamed the “Jerusalem of the North,” attracted celebrated Yiddish writers and scholars, playing a profound role in shaping Jewish thought.

The Great Synagogue wasn’t an isolated structure either, but rather the centerpiece of a vibrant Jewish quarter. It once was surrounded by a complex teeming with Jewish life, including 12 smaller synagogues, study houses, kosher meat stalls, and a bathhouse. The Strashun Library, which was considered one of Eastern Europe’s most significant Jewish cultural institutions at the time was also located in the complex.

The synagogue’s story took a tragic turn during the Holocaust when Hitler burned it to the ground and killed over 90% of Lithuania’s Jews. The building’s fate was sealed under Soviet rule when authorities demolished its remnants in the 1950s to construct a school.