Diving into the Mikvah at Ostia, Or, When is a Pool Not a Pool? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 9, 2025 · 37 MIN

Diving into the Mikvah at Ostia, Or, When is a Pool Not a Pool?

from This Week in the Ancient Near East · host thisweekintheancientneareast

The discovery of a mikvah or Jewish ritual bath in a house at Ostia Antica, the port of Rome, shows that Jews brought their practices wherever they went. After all, a ritual bath leaves you spiritually clean on the inside and a dip leaves you refreshed on the outside. But the Romans and Christians were also crazy about the water, so whose influence is washing over whom?

The discovery of a mikvah or Jewish ritual bath in a house at Ostia Antica, the port of Rome, shows that Jews brought their practices wherever they went. After all, a ritual bath leaves you spiritually clean on the inside and a dip leaves you refreshed on the outside. But the Romans and Christians were also crazy about the water, so whose influence is washing over whom?

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Diving into the Mikvah at Ostia, Or, When is a Pool Not a Pool?

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This episode was published on June 9, 2025.

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The discovery of a mikvah or Jewish ritual bath in a house at Ostia Antica, the port of Rome, shows that Jews brought their practices wherever they went. After all, a ritual bath leaves you spiritually clean on the inside and a dip leaves you...

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