Jerusalem, discovered a... Private toilet from 2,700 years ago--a rarity, it was a luxury

During excavations in Jerusalem on the Armon Hanatziv waterfront, archaeologists have discovered a private toilet dating to the time of the First Temple, some 2,700 years ago. It is a rarity, explains excavation director Yaakov Billig of theIsrael Antiquities Authority, because “only the wealthy could afford private toilets. A private toilet was very rare in antiquity, and only a few have been found to date.” It is therefore assumed that the find belongs to anancient royal estate, the Antiquities Authority suggests. The bath is carved in stone with a hole in the center, positioned above a deep septic tank.
“It is fascinating to see how something that is obvious to us today, like baths, was a luxury item during the reign of the kings of Judah,” said Eli Eskosido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Jerusalem never ceases to amaze.”
Alongside the. water, archaeologists also discovered stone capitals that once decorated the tops of small architectural columns often near windows.
Numerous pottery sherds and animal bones were also found in the septic tank, which could potentially “give us insight into the lifestyles and diets of First Temple people, as well as ancient diseases,” the Authority commented.
Ph.Credit Yoli Schwartz / Israel Antiquities Authority

Jerusalem, discovered a... Private toilet from 2,700 years ago--a rarity, it was a luxury

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