1,600-Year-Old Elderly Care Home Discovered in Ancient City of Hippos

Archaeologists working in northern Israel have uncovered what may be the world’s earliest known home for the elderly, shedding new light on social welfare systems in the ancient world. The discovery was made at Hippos National Park, near the Sea of Galilee, and dates back nearly 1,600 years to the Byzantine period. The findings were announced by the University of Haifa and reported by The Israel Times.

At the center of the discovery is an ornate mosaic medallion bearing a Greek inscription that reads, “Peace be with the elders.” Researchers date the mosaic to the late fourth or early fifth century CE. The inscription was found in a prominent location within a residential quarter of the ancient city of Hippos, suggesting that the building it marked served a specific communal function related to elderly care.

According to archaeologists, this inscription provides the earliest physical evidence of an organized institution dedicated to the care of older people. While historical texts from the fifth and sixth centuries mention facilities for the elderly, no archaeological proof had previously been identified. This makes the Hippos find a groundbreaking contribution to the study of ancient social institutions.

Dr. Michael Eisenberg of the University of Haifa’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology, who co-directed the excavation, emphasized the broader significance of the discovery. He explained that the find demonstrates how concern for the elderly was embedded in society long before modern welfare systems emerged. “This discovery proves that care for older members of society was already an established social value around 1,600 years ago,” Eisenberg said, as cited by The Israel Times.

The research team included Dr. Arleta Kowalewska and Professor Gregor Staab from the University of Cologne. Their study, published in the academic journal Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, argues that the medallion’s wording and location strongly indicate the presence of a formal nursing home. The inscription specifically addresses elders as a group, a rare and direct reference in archaeological contexts.

The site of Hippos, also known as Sussita, was a major Byzantine Christian city overlooking the Sea of Galilee. It served as an episcopal center and featured impressive public architecture, including churches, a basilica, a temple, a theater, and wide colonnaded streets. The newly identified elderly care institution was located near the intersection of two main roads, highlighting its integration into everyday urban life.

Excavations during the 2023 and 2024 seasons allowed researchers to fully uncover and analyze the mosaic and its surrounding iconography. The team concluded that the medallion was likely positioned at the entrance of the building, signaling both a spiritual blessing and a welcoming message to its residents.

Scholars believe the institution reflects early Christian values that encouraged communal responsibility and care beyond traditional family structures. According to the researchers, this development may be linked to broader social changes in Late Antiquity, including monastic life and new forms of communal living promoted by the Christian church.

The medallion may also represent one of the earliest material examples in the Holy Land of the Christian community assuming social responsibilities once managed solely by family networks. Researchers see this as a key moment in the evolution of organized social care.

This remarkable discovery not only deepens understanding of Byzantine society but also highlights the long history of compassion and institutional care for the elderly—an issue that remains highly relevant today.

Cover Image Credit: Dr. Michael Eisenberg