A rare mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath, was found at Ostia Antica, near Rome, offering concrete evidence of a Jewish presence in ancient Roman Ostia. Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli presented the discovery at the site, stating it is "unique in the Roman Mediterranean area and outside the land of Israel."
The mikveh structure was tentatively dated to the late fourth or early fifth century CE. Elements dated between the 4th and 6th centuries CE suggjewishest that the mikveh continued to be used until the end of antiquity. This places it among the oldest examples of mikva'ot archaeologically documented outside of Israel, according to The New York Times.
"This exceptional discovery confirms the importance of Ostia as a melting pot of cultures and beliefs," said Giuli, emphasizing the diversity of cultures in Imperial Rome.
The mikveh shows remains of brick paving and a drainage system that ensured the constant renewal of water. The structure revealed a pool deep enough for immersion, typical of a mikveh, and is located in a building that was likely two or more stories high.
Objects discovered during the excavation include oil lamps decorated with the menorah (seven-branched lampstand) and the lulav (palm branch and symbol of the harvest festival). An oil lamp with a figure of a menorah was found at the bottom of the pool, which helped confirm the identification of the mikveh=.
"It arouses great interest in so many aspects—archaeological, historical, cultic. The history of the Jews of Rome is now enriched by another important monument," said Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community in Rome. "Such an ancient mikveh does not seem to have ever been found in the entire diaspora," he added, according to The New York Times.
Alessandro D'Alessio, the director of the archaeological park of Ancient Ostia, explained that the discovery verifies the uninterrupted presence of Jews in the city from the 1st century CE until the fall of the Roman Empire. "This discovery can only confirm the extent of the continuous presence, the role, and the importance of the Jewish community in Ostia throughout the imperial age (if not earlier): from the beginning of the 1st century, the period to which the oldest known inscription in Italy mentioning 'Iudaei', found in the nearby necropolis of Pianabella, dates, to the 5th-6th century, when the Ostian synagogue, the oldest in Western Mediterranean (it was built in the late 2nd–early 3rd century) and the only one preserved in Rome, ceased to exist following the definitive abandonment of the city," he said.
An ancient synagogue was also discovered at the site, making it one of the oldest synagogues in Europe, dating to the mid-fourth century and likely destroyed in an earthquake in 443. The synagogue was rebuilt to be used through the sixth century, according to The New York Times.
"I hope the excavations will lead to further surprises and soon access will be allowed to visitors," said Professor Caliò, according to VINnews.com. The ongoing excavations at Ostia Antica are set to continue in June, with hopes of uncovering additional Jewish sites.
Alfonsina Russo, Head of the Department for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage, emphasized that Ostia's location at the mouth of the Tiber favored its role as a center of commercial, linguistic, and religious exchange. She expressed pride in the discovery of the first ancient mikveh found outside Israel and emphasized the importance of making the site accessible to the public.
"The oldest find of its kind in the Diaspora after Israel is a source of excitement," said Victor Fadlun, President of the Jewish Community in Rome.
The excavation was conducted as part of the Ostia Post Scriptum (OPS) project, aimed at deepening the understanding of Ostia's urban development. The mikveh was found during an excavation led by Professor Luigi Maria Caliò from the University of Catania.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.