Silver amulet find in Germany reshapes Christian history
A silver amulet from 1,800 years ago discovered in Germany may change perceptions of Christianity in the Roman Empire, reports the Live Science portal.
Scientists found the silver amulet in the grave of a man buried between A.D. 230 and 270 on the outskirts of Frankfurt. The amulet, containing a thin silver foil, is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. This discovery could reshape our understanding of Christian practices in the Roman Empire.
The deceased wore it around his neck
The amulet, measuring only 1.4 inches, was found under the deceased's chin, suggesting that he wore it around his neck. It contained an unusual Latin inscription, which is rare since such inscriptions were typically in Greek or Hebrew. The inscription refers to Jesus Christ and the Christian God and reads:
(In the name?) of St Titus.
Holy, holy, holy!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God!
The Lord of the World
Resists (to the best of his ability?)
All attacks(?)/setbacks(?).
The God(?) grants the well-being
Entry.
This means of salvation(?) protects
The human being who
Surrenders to the will
Of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
Since before Jesus Christ
All knees bow to Jesus Christ: the heavenly
The earthly and
The subterranean and every tongue Confess (to Jesus Christ)."
A special discovery
The discovery of the amulet in Germany is remarkable because such objects were common in late antiquity, especially in the eastern Mediterranean basin, but rarely found in the western Roman world. This suggests that Christian ideas were spreading to areas far from early centers of Christianity.
Experts from the Leibniz Center for Archaeology in Mainz worked for several years on the conservation and analysis of the amulet. Scientists succeeded in creating a virtual 3D model, which allowed them to read the inscription. Markus Scholz from Goethe University in Frankfurt emphasizes that the inscription is unique.
A similar amulet was discovered in 2023 in Bulgaria, indicating the need for early Christians to conceal their faith. However, the amulet from Frankfurt is unique because it contains no references to other beliefs, making it purely Christian.
The "Frankfurt inscription" is a scientific sensation that could revise the history of Christianity in the region by 50 to 100 years. It is the first Christian find north of the Alps, which is a point of pride for Frankfurt, especially during the holiday season, emphasizes the city's mayor, Mike Josef.
