A fascinating archaeological find has emerged in Ephesus, a historic Turkish city where the apostle Paul preached. This discovery was reported by Ankara’s state broadcaster, Anadolu Agency, on December 12. Ephesus is notably one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
The excavations revealed a Roman marble bathtub alongside fragments of a male statue’s torso, which had been repurposed as paving stones.
According to archaeologist Serdar Aybek, the bathtub dates back to the 1st century AD. He noted that, unlike the well-known public baths in Ephesus, this particular bathtub was likely meant for private use. “It’s not an everyday find,” Aybek remarked, reflecting on its rarity.
“We believe it was part of a terraced house from the 1st century AD,” he continued, mentioning that he found it while working at a nearby theater. The size suggests it served a domestic purpose.
The bathtub was located along ancient Stadium Street, likely part of a complex occupied by wealthy Roman families living in lavish villas. Made from a local Greco Scritto marble characterized by bold black veins, the bathtub measures about five feet in length, 2.5 feet in width, and two feet in height.
This bath was previously used by affluent households before being transformed into a fountain trough. Aybek highlighted how unexpected it was to find statue fragments dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. The fragments of a statue of an unidentified man were discovered dismantled, indicating they had been joined and then taken apart.
Interestingly, the fragments were found face down and had served as road paving stones.
This finding is part of a broader pattern of recent discoveries in Asia Minor related to early Christianity’s history.
In October, a 1,500-year-old Christian floor mosaic was uncovered in Urfa, a location traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Abraham. Additionally, this summer, the remains of a large Roman council hall were excavated in Laodicea, another city mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
