Archaeologists have unearthed a rare find in the eastern German city of Erfurt. Remains of a Mikvah, were found near Erfurt’s Krämer Bridge. The two-story high construction had been located in the cellar of a building along the bank of the Gera River.
The Mikvah was especially well preserved, according to Sven Ostritz of the Thuringian state authority for historical protection and archeology.
The Erfurt mikvah’s existence had been documented in the year 1250, but in a systematic search for it several years ago archaeologists had failed to locate it, Ostritz said.
The town is also the site of a medieval synagogue, which was built around 1100 and is currently being renovated. The city plans to install a permanent exhibition on the importance of Erfurt’s Jewish community in the building.
(Source: DW World)
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7 Responses
amazing…… but the picture is misleading…… quite doubtful mikvehs looked like that 800 years ago
It is interesting, I’d like to know how a mikvah was designed in the times of the Rishonim, as compared to today, and do we know anything about the rabbonim and the people from that time in Erfurt?
To esg78:
The Mahari Weil became rov of Erfurt in 1444. I’ve seen his Pirush on the Rambam in Sefer N’Zikin, I believe.
this is great i always wanted to move to Erfurt but couldn’t because there was no mikva
ERFURT HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click here for directions from Lakewood to Erfurt
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=08701&daddr=Erfurt,+Germany&sll=45.5393,-31.64118&sspn=83.198091,163.125&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=3&om=1
the water seems pretty clean for such an old mikveh.
long wharf, mass. is going to get crowded with people swimming to Uman and to Erfurt. do they have a diving board?