Ancient Christian City Reveals 1,600-Year-Old Care Home for Elders

Archaeologists from the University of Haifa say they’ve uncovered what may be the world’s oldest known nursing home: a 1,600-year-old Christian care facility in the Byzantine city of Hippos near the Sea of Galilee, identified by a mosaic at the building’s entrance that reads in Greek, “Peace be with the elders,” and interpreted as rare, direct evidence of an organized institution devoted to dignified care for seniors in late antiquity; the discovery, dated to the late 4th or early 5th century A.D., offers an unusual glimpse into how early Christian communities formalized responsibilities once handled solely by families.