Reference

The Cold Synagogue in Mogilev featured several unique architectural and artistic characteristics:

1. Architecture: The synagogue was a wooden structure with a very high gable roof, built on a complex plan with numerous annexes. This multi-level, tiered roofing system was quite distinctive.

2. Ceiling Design: The interior ceiling design was particularly unique. While the building itself was square at the ground level, the ceiling transformed into an octagonal vaulted space, resembling a yarmulke. This transition was achieved using triangular panels to mask the change from square to octagonal shapes.

3. Interior Decoration: The interior of the synagogue was elaborately decorated. Nearly all the interior walls were covered with intricate murals and paintings, which included a variety of Jewish motifs and symbolic imagery. Among the notable artists who contributed to its decoration was El Lissitzky, famous for his mural featuring zodiac signs like the "Zodiacal Lion" and the "Garden of Eden Serpent."

4. Cold Synagogue Name Origin: The name "Cold Synagogue" derived from the fact that the synagogue had no central heating system, making it cold during the winter months.

Here are some images of the Cold Synagogue that highlight its unique features:

• Exterior view of the synagogue with its high gable roof:

  

• Interior mural featuring the "Zodiacal Lion":

  

• Another mural by El Lissitzky, "The Garden of Eden Serpent":

  

You can find further details on the Cold Synagogue in Mogilev here: Virtual Shtetl