ROME – Ancient mikveh found at Ostia
The remains of the synagogue at Rome’s ancient port of Ostia, dating back to the first century, testify to the continuous Jewish presence in Italy for more than two centuries. They are also a great source of new historical discoveries. A few months ago, during an excavation campaign supported by the Ministry of Culture, a ritual bath (mikveh) was unearthed. The discovery was presented to the press on March 10, in a meeting attended by, among others, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, and the vice president of the Jewish Community of Rome, Antonella Di Castro.
“There are many ritual baths in Israel and some from the Middle Ages in Europe,” said Rabbi Di Segni. “But such an ancient mikveh does not seem to have ever been found in the entire Diaspora. At this point Rome has an exceptional archaeological heritage of Jewish history. There is not only the Arch of Titus: there are the catacombs, there is the synagogue of Ostia and now also the mikveh of Ostia”. The Rabbi then made an appeal to the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli: “Let’s organize an itinerary for this type of Jewish tourism. Starting tomorrow, I will receive many phone calls to visit it. This is a treasure, perhaps for specialists, but the Jewish public that travels the world is looking for this type of thing to see”.
“For years, the agreement and the collaboration between the Jewish Community of Rome and the Ostia Archeological Park have produced important results in terms of research, didactics and dissemination,” said Di Castro. In this sense, she added, the discovery of the mikveh marks “a further step forward in our mission to preserve and share our cultural heritage.”
The Ostia synagogue, one of the oldest in the world, was discovered in 1961. Its original nucleus may date back to the time when Emperor Claudius built the port of Ostia. The building was renovated and enlarged between the third and fourth centuries of the common era.
The remains of the synagogue at Rome’s ancient port of Ostia, dating back to the first century, testify to the continuous Jewish presence in Italy for more than two centuries. They are also a great source of new historical discoveries. A few months ago, during an excavation campaign supported by the Ministry of Culture, a ritual bath (mikveh) was unearthed. The discovery was presented to the press on March 10, in a meeting attended by, among others, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, and the vice president of the Jewish Community of Rome, Antonella Di Castro.
“There are many ritual baths in Israel and some from the Middle Ages in Europe,” said Rabbi Di Segni. “But such an ancient mikveh does not seem to have ever been found in the entire Diaspora. At this point Rome has an exceptional archaeological heritage of Jewish history. There is not only the Arch of Titus: there are the catacombs, there is the synagogue of Ostia and now also the mikveh of Ostia”. The Rabbi then made an appeal to the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli: “Let’s organize an itinerary for this type of Jewish tourism. Starting tomorrow, I will receive many phone calls to visit it. This is a treasure, perhaps for specialists, but the Jewish public that travels the world is looking for this type of thing to see”.
“For years, the agreement and the collaboration between the Jewish Community of Rome and the Ostia Archeological Park have produced important results in terms of research, didactics and dissemination,” said Di Castro. In this sense, she added, the discovery of the mikveh marks “a further step forward in our mission to preserve and share our cultural heritage.”
The Ostia synagogue, one of the oldest in the world, was discovered in 1961. Its original nucleus may date back to the time when Emperor Claudius built the port of Ostia. The building was renovated and enlarged between the third and fourth centuries of the common era.