A unique ancient Jewish bathhouse or
mikveh has been found at Rome's ancient port of Ostia Antica.
Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli presented the find in the site
on the coast near Rome on Monday along with Rome Chief Rabbi
Riccardo Di Segni.
"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".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
