Roman Bathhouse Unearthed

February 1, 2011

According to excavation director Dr. Ofer Sion, “During the excavation, we uncovered a number of plastered bathtubs in the side of the pool. Incorporated in the side of the pool is a pipe used to fill it with water and on the floor of the pool is a white industrial mosaic pavement. The bathhouse tiles, which are stamped with the symbols of the Tenth Legion [who destroyed the Temple],…were found in-situ [in its original place], and it seems that they were used to cover a rock-hewn water channel located at the bottom of the pool. The hundreds of terra cotta roof tiles that were found on the floors of the pool indicate it was a covered structure. The mark of the soldiers of the Tenth Legion, in the form of the stamped impressions on the roof tiles and the in-situmud bricks, bears witness to the fact that they were the builders of the structure.

Imprint of a dog paw impressed on a roof tile.

The pipe work that used to fill the pool can be cleary seen on the center right of the picture.

“It seems that the bathhouse was used by these soldiers who were garrisoned there after suppressing the Bar Kokhba uprising in AD 135, when the pagan city Aelia Capitolina was established. We know that the Tenth Legion’s camp was situated within the limits of what is today the Old City, probably in the region of the Armenian Quarter. This assumption is reinforced by the discovery of the bathhouse in the nearby Jewish Quarter, which shows that the multitude of soldiers was spread out and that they were also active outside the camp in other parts of the Old City…Another interesting discovery that caused excitement during the excavation is the paw print of a dog that probably belonged to one of the soldiers.”

Though it was known that the Tenth Legion occupied the area, not one Roman legion building had ever been found until now, so it was concluded that Aelia Capitolina was very small. Now they believe it was much larger. Study of this Roman city is important because it determined the character of ancient Jerusalem as we know it today.

Source: From an IAA press release

Photo Credit: Photos by IAA