Europe's Oldest Jewish Ritual Bath Unearthed in Ostia Antica, Italy, Revealing Thriving Jewish Life Under Roman Rule

Archaeologists in Ostia Antica, Italy, have discovered a 1,600-year-old Jewish ritual bath (mikveh), the oldest found in Europe. The find occurred during excavations in a previously unexplored central area of the ancient city, once a bustling seaport of imperial Rome. Instead of expected warehousing, researchers unearthed a large, mosaic-decorated house containing the mikveh. This discovery provides insights into the Jewish community's prosperity and religious practices during Roman rule. The presence of Jewish residents in Ostia Antica is documented as early as the first century BC, with a synagogue dating back to the second century AD already identified as the earliest in Europe.