18 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

A Baptismal Surprise: Triton Baths in Southeastern Rome Converted into Early Christian Church

Recent archaeological excavations within the monumental complex of the Villa di Sette Bassi, situated in the southeastern outskirts of Rome, have unveiled a remarkable transformation of an ancient Roman bath complex, the Triton Baths, into an early Christian church during Late Antiquity. Constructed in the 2nd century A.D., the Triton Baths now reveal a fascinating chapter in the history of Rome’s suburban landscape and the early spread of Christianity.

The ongoing and meticulous archaeological investigation has brought to light compelling evidence of this conversion, most notably the discovery of a well-preserved vasca, a pool meticulously lined with marble. Archaeologists interpret this structure as an ancient baptistery, specifically designed for the rite of baptism by immersion. This finding provides a crucial key to understanding the process of Christianization in the territories immediately surrounding the ancient heart of Rome.

The Villa di Sette Bassi itself was a significant Roman estate, and the presence of substantial structures like the Triton Baths underscores its importance during the imperial era. These baths, typical of Roman architectural grandeur, would have served as a social and hygienic hub for the local population. The subsequent conversion of such a prominent site into a Christian place of worship highlights the profound societal and religious shifts that characterized the transition from classical antiquity to the early Christian period.

The discovered baptistery exhibits a history of adaptation, revealing at least two distinct phases of remodeling. Initially, the vasca featured a deeper basin, intentionally designed to accommodate the early Christian practice of full immersion baptism. This ritual held immense symbolic significance, representing the believer’s death to their former life and their rebirth into the Christian faith. In a later phase, the basin underwent a significant alteration, with its bottom being partially filled in, thereby reducing the overall depth of the structure.

This modification in the baptistery’s design closely mirrors the liturgical evolution of the sacrament of baptism during Late Antiquity. As Christianity spread and adapted, the practice of full immersion gradually gave way to more symbolic forms of the rite, which were less physically demanding. The two distinct phases of the vasca at Villa di Sette Bassi offer tangible archaeological evidence of this liturgical transformation within a specific community.


A view of the discovered "vasca" (pool), identified as an ancient baptistery, within the excavated Roman thermal baths. Credit: Archaeological Park of the Appia Antica.
A view of the discovered “vasca” (pool), identified as an ancient baptistery, within the excavated Roman thermal baths. Credit: Archaeological Park of the Appia Antica.

The original dimensions of the baptistery strongly suggest that the earliest and most solemn form of Christian initiation, full immersion, was practiced at this location during its initial period of use. This underscores the site’s early importance in the Christian community. Furthermore, the architectural layout surrounding the vasca, along with other structural elements unearthed during the excavation, bolsters the interpretation that this was not merely a marginal chapel but a fully established baptismal church, possessing the authority to administer the sacrament of baptism and, significantly, the right to burial.

The discovery of numerous burials in the immediate vicinity of the vasca further supports this conclusion. The presence of such a concentration of tombs indicates that the site held considerable religious significance and served as a central point within the ecclesiastical network of the region, rather than just a small, infrequently used place of worship.

Intriguingly, the possibility of a bishopric having been located at this site during Late Antiquity cannot be dismissed. Situated in the heart of the Roman countryside, such a high-ranking ecclesiastical presence could readily explain the notable density of burials discovered near the ecclesiastical building. This hypothesis opens up exciting new avenues for understanding the early organization and influence of the Christian Church in the suburban territories of Rome.

The very coexistence within the same architectural complex of elements characteristic of imperial-era bath architecture alongside distinctly Christian liturgical components vividly illustrates the gradual yet profound transition in the uses of space. This physical transformation directly reflects the broader social and religious upheaval that marked the decline of classical Antiquity and the ascendance of Christianity as a dominant force.

A detailed view showing the two distinct levels of the excavated structure, as identified within the former hot springs. Credit: Archaeological Park of the Appia Antica.
A detailed view showing the two distinct levels of the excavated structure, as identified within the former hot springs. Credit: Archaeological Park of the Appia Antica.

This groundbreaking discovery at the Villa di Sette Bassi has the potential to significantly reshape the historical understanding of the Christian presence and its development in the Latium region during the crucial post-imperial period. The ongoing research and analysis conducted by scholars such as Alessandra Ten, Carla Maria Amici, and Lucrezia Spera promise to yield further valuable insights into this fascinating and pivotal era of Roman history and the early Church.

In conclusion, the excavation at the Triton Baths not only sheds light on the architectural and liturgical developments of early Christianity but also opens new avenues for exploring the rich tapestry of religious life in ancient Rome. As scholars delve deeper into this site, we can expect to gain further insights into the ways in which Christianity took root and flourished in the heart of the Roman Empire.

Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica

Cover Image Credit: Wikipedia

Related Articles

The sword, thought to be a replica, turned out to be an authentic 3000-year-old Bronze Age sword

22 January 2023

22 January 2023

A sword in Chicago’s Field Museum that was previously thought to be a replica has been revealed to be an...

A Roman copper-alloy tiny tortoise figurine found in Suffolk

3 December 2023

3 December 2023

In July last year, a small Roman copper alloy tortoise or turtle figurine was discovered by metal detectors near the...

Isles of Scilly Iron Age warrior buried with a mirror and sword was probably a woman

27 July 2023

27 July 2023

Archaeologists conducted a DNA analysis of the tooth enamel of a person who died more than two millennia ago on...

Viking Gold Treasure Unearthed on Isle of Man by Veteran Metal Detectorist

2 June 2025

2 June 2025

A remarkable piece of Viking gold has been unearthed on the Isle of Man, shedding new light on the island’s...

Using 3D scanners, archaeologists have identified the person who carved Jelling Stone Runes

29 September 2023

29 September 2023

Researchers at the National Museum of Denmark using 3D scans have identified who carved the Jelling Stone Runes, located in...

Women buried with thick twisted bronze neck rings and buckets on their feet found in Ukraine

20 January 2024

20 January 2024

Archaeologists discovered the remains of men buried with weapons such as axes, spearheads, and swords, and women buried with thick...

Archaeologists Find the “Lost” House of the Last Anglo-Saxon King Depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry

28 January 2025

28 January 2025

A team from Newcastle University and the University of Exeter have uncovered evidence that a house in England is the...

Spectacular ancient mosaic found in Paphos, Cyprus

21 July 2021

21 July 2021

During the excavations carried out on Fabrika Hill in Kato Paphos, Cyprus, an ancient mosaic floor belonging to the Hellenistic...

The ancient city of Karkamış “House of the Seal” brings a different perspective to the Hittite-Assyrian relations with its important finds

6 May 2022

6 May 2022

Historical artifacts discovered during excavations by Turkish and Italian teams in the ancient city of Karkamış (Carchemish) in southern Gaziantep...

1,600-year-old Hunnic double burial found in Poland

15 June 2024

15 June 2024

In 2018, archaeologists uncovered a 1,600-year-old double burial in the village of Czulice near Krakow, Poland, containing the remains of...

Ancient winery site uncovered in China’s Hebei

5 January 2022

5 January 2022

In northern China’s Hebei region, an ancient winery going back 400 years to the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties...

Arkeologists decipher hieroglyphics of a vessel found in the archaeological rescue of the Mayan Train

16 May 2022

16 May 2022

Based on the analysis of eleven glyphic cartouches inscribed into a ceramic pot, discovered in October 2021 during archaeological rescue...

1400-year-old gold foil figures found in pagan temple

19 September 2023

19 September 2023

Archaeologists have discovered a votive gold hoard during road development works in Vingrom, south of Lillehammer on the shores of...

During roadwork in Oregon, a woolly mammoth tusk was discovered

21 June 2021

21 June 2021

A 12,000-year-old woolly mammoth tusk was discovered beneath the street by crews rerouting a gas line in Corvallis, Oregon. “Whenever...

Slavic settlement and burial ground with two unusual graves discovered in Saxony-Anhalt

7 August 2024

7 August 2024

Archaeologists from the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology (LDA) of Saxony-Anhalt have uncovered a wealth of medieval treasures,...