Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable piece of history in Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman port city. The discovery of an ancient Jewish ritual bath, known as a mikvah, marks a significant find in the history of Jewish presence outside the Middle East. Announced by Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, this mikvah is believed to date back to the fifth or sixth century, making it the oldest well-dated example of such a structure outside Judaea.
The Jewish community has had a presence in Rome since the second century B.C., growing considerably by the time of the Roman Empire. The mikvah, found during the summer of 2024, was discovered in a narrow, rectangular room featuring a small staircase leading into a plaster-lined pit. This architectural design, along with artifacts discovered at the site, points to its use as a Jewish community center.
Riccardo Di Segni, chief rabbi of the Jewish Community of Rome, noted that "it is probable that this was a Jewish community center," highlighting the communal significance of the structure. The mikvah's discovery enriches the historical narrative of Rome's Jewish community, which was generally accepted despite being a religious minority.
Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli commented on the broader implications of the find:
"Strengthens the historical awareness of Ostia as a true crossroads of coexistence and exchange of cultures, a cradle of tolerance between different peoples who found unity in Roman civilization."
The mikvah is used in Jewish tradition for purification purposes, cleansing both people and objects. This discovery not only highlights the religious practices of ancient Jews but also underscores the continuity and resilience of their cultural identity through the centuries.
Alessandro D'Alessio, director of the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, emphasized the historical continuity with his statement:
"Confirms the extent of the continuous presence, role and importance of the Jewish community in Ostia throughout the Imperial age."
This finding adds a new chapter to the understanding of Jewish life in ancient Rome. Previously, the oldest archaeological examples of mikva'ot were from Judaea, dating back to the late first century B.C. The newly discovered mikvah at Ostia Antica challenges previous records, with another contender for the oldest mikvah location being an ancient temple on Russia's Taman Peninsula.
Victor Fadlun, president of the Jewish Community of Rome, remarked on the cultural and historical significance of this discovery:
"The mikvah is the sign of a living presence that has perpetuated itself over the centuries and shows us today the demonstration of an identity that many generations of Jews have managed to preserve, defend and enhance."
