Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli presented the find inside 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.
“[This is] unique in the Roman Mediterranean area and outside the land of Israel.
“It’s fundamental to understanding the great strength of the Jewish world’s roots in the heart of ‘Romanity’,” he continued.
“That this happened in Ostia is both joyful and surprising, but only up to a certain point.
“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.
“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 the 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 civilisation.
“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.
“Rome is a city that hosts all civilisations, all traditions and the Jewish one is the oldest one,” Giuli concluded.
Di Segni told the press that the bathhouse joined the Synagogue already at Ostia and would spur Jewish tourism to the ancient port.
Ostia is often overlooked by tourists despite being in many ways as rich in finds and beauty as Pompeii.
“There are many ritual baths in Israel and some from the Middle Ages in Europe,” said 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.”
Di Segni also said that “usually we always talk about things that are not very cheerful and instead this is a very beautiful thing”.
The rabbi then made an appeal to Giuli; “Let’s organise 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.”
ANSA
