 The building was constructed in 406 CE as a large Byzantine church by Empress Aelia Eudocia , although it is also a possible that the church was built by Emperor Marcian . Based on a Jewish inscription carved on the upper tier of one of the building 's columns , it was suggested in the late 19th century that the upper pillars of the building were brought from a 3rd @-@ century Jewish synagogue in Caesarea Maritima . The discovery of a 6th @-@ century synagogue at the port of Gaza ( Maiumas ) in the 1960s , however , make local re @-@ use of this column much likelier . In addition to the inscription , the column depicted a menorah , a shofar , a lulav and etrog surrounded by a decorative wreath ; the inscription read " Hananyah son of Jacob " in both Hebrew and Greek . The church appeared in the Map of Madaba mosaic , created in 600 CE . 
