An Early Christian Community May Have Run the World’s First Nursing Home
Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:Israeli archaeologists unearthed written evidence of what could be the world’s oldest nursing home from the Byzantine Empire’s Hippos.The discovery came during an annual excavation at Hippos National Park at a site overlooking the Sea of Galilee. A University of Haifa researcher calls the find proof that care of the elderly is not a modern construct. The Byzantine Empire was taking special care of its elderly some 1,600 years ago, including operating what is possibly the world’s oldest nursing home in the process. A team of researchers discovered possible evidence of the ancient precursor to assisted living thanks to excavations and Greek mosaic translations at Hippos National Park. Since 2000, researchers have excavated the hilltop overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and translating the mosaics located there has been part of the regular process. The latest translation sheds light on the way the community cared for the elderly in the late fourth or early fifth century A.D. According to an announcement from the University of Haifa, as reported by the Times of Israel, researchers discovered an ornate mosaic medallion with a Greek inscription translated as “Peace be with the elders.” The inscription was nearby what the team called one of the most impressive and colorful mosaic displays at the entire excavation site. “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,” said Michael Eisenberg, co-director of the excavation project for the University of Haifa’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology.Related StoryArchaeologists Found Ancient King’s ‘Mosaic House’A team—consisting of Eisenberg, Arleta Kowalewska of the Zinman Institute, and Gregot Staab of the University of Cologne— published a study in Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik highlighting the discovery, noting that the text of the inscription and its location among the city’s residential section show the probability that the mosaic offered the first physical proof of systematic care of the elderly. “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,” the researchers wrote. “This development likely reflects new Christian ways of life outside traditional family structures, such as monasticism.” Hippos served as a key religious, social, and economic hub during the Byzantine period, and the mosaic was located close to the intersection of two major residential streets and about 325 feet from the town’s central plaza. Past excavations in the area had already revealed that Hippos was likely a largely Christian city with seven churches, a temple, a basilica, and theaters. Related StoryCouple Uses Morse Code to Escape From Nursing HomeThe mosaic was first discovered in 2023 and fully revealed by 2024. After that, it took the team time to analyze the inscription alongside the iconography that surrounded it. According to Israel National News, the researchers analyzed the inscription linguistically, stylistically, and contextually, while comparing it to historical texts from roughly the same time that alluded to caring for the elderly. The iconography surrounding the inscription—Egyptian geese, cypress trees, fruits, and pots—were also considered indicators the site was a home for the elderly. The team deduced the medallion was placed at a prominent entry to an important institution. “This was a communal and spiritual institution integrated into the fabric of city life and reflecting the social values of the period,” the study authors wrote. “The inscription addresses a specific public directly, which is a rare glimpse into the daily lives of older people in antiquity.” Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. He covers stadiums, sneakers, gear, infrastructure, and more for a variety of publications, including Popular Mechanics. His favorite interviews have included sit-downs with Roger Federer in Switzerland, Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, and Tinker Hatfield in Portland.
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