Archaeologists have uncovered unexpected Roman-era artifacts in Ephesus, a city deeply rooted in early Christian history and named as one of the seven churches in the book of Revelation.
The discoveries were announced Dec. 12 by Anadolu Agency, Fox News reports. As excavations along the city’s ancient Stadium Street revealed a rare first-century marble bathtub and a fragmented Roman statue, both offering new insight into daily life during the era of the early church.
The marble bathtub, carved from Greco Scritto marble and measuring nearly five feet long, dates back to the first century A.D. Archaeologist Serdar Aybek said the find stood out because it was intended for private use rather than a public bath complex.
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“It is an unusual discovery because it is not something we encounter frequently,” Aybek said.
“We believe it belonged to the Terrace Houses and was used in the first century A.D.,” he added. “We found it during work at the theater, and its size shows it was used in a house.”
After its original use by a wealthy Roman household, the bathtub was later repurposed as a fountain trough, reflecting how structures and objects were reused as the city evolved.
Archaeologists also uncovered a fragment of a male statue, dated between the first century B.C. and first century A.D., which had been dismantled and reused as a paving stone. Aybek described the discovery as “completely unexpected.”
The finds are the latest in a growing list of discoveries across Asia Minor tied to early Christianity and the Roman world. In recent months, a 1,500-year-old Christian floor mosaic was unearthed in Urfa, traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Abraham. Meanwhile, archaeologists in Laodicea, another city named in Revelation, uncovered the remains of a massive Roman council hall.
Taken together, the steady stream of discoveries in biblically significant locations is drawing worldwide attention. For many observers, the timing is striking. Cities mentioned in Scripture are once again at the center of global focus, their buried histories resurfacing rapidly as interest in the ancient world and biblical prophecy continues to intensify.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
