Archaeologists have made a seismic discovery, unearthing what they think may be the earliest example of an old people’s home beneath the surface of an ancient Christian village in modern day Israel.
The proto-nursing home was found in the ruins of the ancient city of Hippos just 2km east of the Sea of Galilee.
The Hellenistic city in the north Jordan valley was an important bishop’s seat in the region during the early Christian Byzantine era.
Archaeologists first thought they had struck gold when the team from the University of Haifa’s Zinman I found an inscription on an intricate mosaic floor design at the entrance of an ancient building, as reported by Israel’s news agency TPS-IL.
The reason scientists think this may have been a structure dedicated to taking acre of the community’s elderly is because the mosaic read, “Peace be with the elders,” in Koine Greek.
The artwork was found 20 feet from Hippos’ central plaza, inside one of the city’s residential blocks, dating back to the fourth or fifth century A.D.
In a statement, Michael Eisenberg, Ph.D., said the mosaic “offers a tangible, dated, and clear indication of an institution designed for the elderly.”
He said: “This is living proof that care and concern for the elderly are not just a modern idea, but were part of social institutions and concepts as far back as about 1,600 years ago. It shows that Byzantine society established not only religious centers but also places dedicated to dignity and care for its seniors.”
Previously, sources from the fifth and sixth centuries show that organisations dedicated to nurturing elderly people, meaning that this is evidence in the contemporary history, and may well have been a nursing home of sorts. The mosaic would have sat at the entrance of the building to make its purpose clear to visitors and users.
Even the choice of imagery on the mosaic seems to support researchers’ hypothesis. The mosaic features cypress trees, which were associated with everlasting life, and fruits, which also represented eternal life.
Egyptian geese also made an appearance, which symbolized blessed souls. The research team, which published its findings in the Journal of Papyrology and Epigraphy, said the discovery gives us “a rare glimpse into the daily lives of older people in antiquity.”
They added: “This was a communal and spiritual institution integrated into the fabric of city life and reflecting the social values of the period.
“It may provide one of the earliest material testimonies in the Holy Land, showing how the Christian community began assuming responsibilities for care that had previously been handled by family networks alone.”