Unique Jewish bathhouse discovered at Rome’s ancient port
A unique ancient Jewish bathhouse or mikveh has been found at Rome's ancient port of Ostia Antica.
Culture Minister of Italy Alessandro Giuli presented the find in the site on the coast near Rome along with Rome Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, CE Report quotes ANSA.
"We joyfully welcome the discovery of this mikveh in Ostia," Giuli told reporters.
Explaining that it is "unique in the Roman Mediterranean area and outside the land of Israel - according to Giuli - is fundamental to understanding the great strength of the Jewish world's roots in the heart of Romanity.
"That this happened in Ostia is both joyful and surprising, but only up to a certain point." And he underlined: "Ostia was the gateway to the Mediterranean and hosted the original cults of many cultures now called Euro-African.
Think of Cybele, the great Mother, who landed right here from Pergamon, from deep Anatolia and went up the Tiber to Rome.
"But Ostia is not just a miniature Rome but is a bit of its prologue. Of what happens in Rome, of the settlements that develop there.
"Think that here alone 20 mithraea (temples to soldier god Mithras) have been found, a temple of Isis and Serapis, a Constantinian basilica contemporary to the Vatican and Lateran ones, a multifaceted mirror of everything that represents the Roman history of the Mediterranean and the development of European civilization.
"The discovery of the mikveh strengthens us in this story of a universal ecumenical vocation in perfect harmony with the mission of Rome.
"It is no coincidence that the Jews of the diaspora found hospitality, relationships, and the possibility of social affirmation of the highest lineage.
"A fertile ground in which to make a plant that is still alive today germinate to the point so much so that we are here to reason with the Jewish community and the rabbi of Di Segni on the fact that it finds its visibility.
"Rome - Giuli concluded - is a city that hosts all civilizations, all traditions and the Jewish one is the oldest one".
Di Segni told the press that the bathhouse joined the Synagogue already at Ostia and would spur Jewish tourism to the ancient port, which is often overlooked by tourists despite being in many ways as rich in finds and beauty as Pompeii.
Di Segni said: "There are many ritual baths in Israel and some from the Middle Ages in Europe.
"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".
Di Segni also said that "usually we always talk about things that are not very cheerful and instead this is a very beautiful thing".
Di Segni then made an appeal to Giuli: "Let's organize a tourist circuit 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".
