BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Elder Care in Antiquity

Hippos-Sussita mosaic offers rare evidence

Although family members typically cared for the elderly in antiquity, the concept of places dedicated to elder care is by no means a modern invention. With the spread of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean during the Byzantine period (c. 324–634 CE), institutions specifically designated for the care of the elderly began to spread, with many being directly connected to churches or funded by wealthy donors. Now, a discovery at the site of Hippos-Sussita, near the Sea of Galilee, may be the earliest archaeological evidence of just such a place.

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Elder Care at Hippos-Sussita

Publishing in the journal Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, the directors of the excavation and an epigraphist describe the discovery of a unique mosaic inscription. The inscription consists of just a few words: “Peace be with the elders.” Written within a double-framed medallion, the inscription is accompanied by a cross and the Greek letters alpha and omega, which in Christian tradition represent the completeness and wholeness of Jesus Christ. The fragmentary mosaic preserves only as a small section of what was likely once a much larger work. Measuring roughly 20 feet long and 2.5 feet wide, the mosaic features Egyptian geese, Cypress trees, fruits, and vessels, in addition to the medallion and inscription.

According to the researchers, the mosaic was likely placed at the entrance to a building, where anyone who entered would be met by the greeting. Despite the alpha and omega being frequently found in church settings, the inscription points instead to the existence of an elder care facility at Hippos-Sussita. By examining the pottery both above and below the mosaic, the excavators dated it to the late fourth or early fifth century. While textual sources suggest that dedicated places for elder care were first constructed in the early fourth century, it was only in the fifth century that such institutions gained prominence, with many established by various Byzantine empresses and church leaders. The mosaic’s date would suggest that the Hippos-Sussita facility was among the first of its kind. While other such institutions are known from textual sources, this is the earliest example ever discovered in an archaeological context.

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“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 the excavation’s co-director, Michael Eisenberg. “This was a communal and spiritual institution integrated into the fabric of city life and reflecting the social values of the period.”

The mosaic was discovered in a neighborhood near the heart of ancient Hippos-Sussita, only a few hundred feet from the city’s central plaza. During the Byzantine period, the city was a significant economic, cultural, and religious center in the Galilee region, serving as the seat of the local bishop and home to at least seven separate churches. Since excavations began in 2000, many inscriptions have been discovered at the site that depict its religious character.

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Related reading in Bible History Daily

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Inscriptions of Everyday Byzantine Christians Discovered

Hippos-Sussita Excavations Unearth Rare Pan Mask

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Pan at Hippos: Face of Greek God Unearthed

The Spade Hits Sussita