A team of archaeologists has discovered a mikveh dating back to the 4th or 5th century AD in Ostia Antica, revealing new evidence of the Jewish presence in ancient Rome.
An archaeological find in Ostia Antica, an ancient port city located less than 24 kilometers from Rome, has revealed what could be the mikvah (Jewish ritual bath) oldest ever found outside the Middle East. According to the New York Times, the discovery dates back to the late 4th or early 5th century AD, making it a unique testimony to the Jewish presence in Europe during Late Antiquity.
The team led by Luigi Maria Calio, archaeologist of the University of Catania, made the discovery while working on an excavation last summer. Caliò explained to the New York Times They initially expected to find structures related to warehouses or a river port, but instead unearthed a rectangular underground pool that experts say meets the characteristics of a mikveh. This discovery reinforces the historical importance of Ostia Antica as a meeting point for diverse Mediterranean cultures.
A ritual bath in the heart of a Roman residence
La mikvah was found in a domus, a large and wealthy private residence located in a central area of Ostia Antica. As Caliò explained to the New York TimesThe pool was lined with black and white tiles and connected to a circular well that supplied it with groundwater. Its depth was sufficient to allow complete immersion for an adult, an essential requirement for Jewish ritual baths.
El Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica issued a statement describing the characteristics of the find, highlighting its historical significance. However, some experts have urged caution before confirming that it is a mikveh. L. Michael White, biblical scholar of the University of Texas in Austin, pointed to New York Times that various types of pools existed in ancient Rome, including those used for Christian baptisms, so more evidence is needed for a definitive identification.
The oil lamp: a key test
The debate about the nature of the find seems to lean towards identifying it as a mikvah thanks to an object found at the bottom of the pool. According to the London times, archaeologists discovered an oil lamp decorated with images of a menorah or with a lulav (a palm branch used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot). For the chief rabbi of Rome, Richard DiSegniThis object constitutes conclusive proof that the bath had a Jewish ritual use. “That was the proof,” Di Segni told the British media.
Ostia Antica: a melting pot of Mediterranean cultures
Ostia Antica, which at its peak housed around 100.000 inhabitants, was an important seaport at the mouth of the Tiber River. As explained Alfonsina Russo, archaeologist of the Colosseum in Rome, this discovery confirms the multicultural character of the city, which was a meeting point for various communities of the Mediterranean coastAmong the oldest Jewish remains in Ostia Antica are a synagogue, considered one of the oldest in Western Europe, and a 1st-century AD tombstone with Jewish inscriptions.
El London times He emphasized that the city maintained its cultural diversity until the 5th century AD, when the deterioration of the port due to shifting sand and marshy vegetation led to its almost total abandonment. Despite this, the legacy of Ostia Antica lives on in both archaeology and cultural memory. He stated Giacomo Moscati, a Jew living in Rome, London timesThe Italian Jewish surname “Di Porto” originates from the Jewish inhabitants who lived in the port of Ostia.
An exceptional archaeological heritage
The discovery of the mikveh has sparked great interest in the Jewish community and academia. According to reports HANDLE, Rabbi Di Segni anticipates that the site will attract numerous Jewish visitors interested in learning about this important vestige of their history."Starting tomorrow, I'll be getting a lot of calls to visit him," he told the same outlet.
For the moment, the site is not open to the public, as excavations will continue this summer. However, the Italian Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, highlighted during the public inauguration of the mikveh that this discovery “reinforces our historical understanding of Ostia Antica as a true crossroads of coexistence and cultural exchange.”