1,800-year-old silver amulet could rewrite the history of Christianity in the early Roman Empire

An 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered at a burial in Germany is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps, according to a new study.

The researchers made the discovery by digitally unrolling a tiny scroll inside the amulet, which revealed an unusual Latin inscription. The finding could upend historians’ understanding of how early Christianity was practiced Roman Empire.

The amulet, which is only 3.5 centimeters long, contains a wafer-thin sheet of silver foil that is tightly rolled up. Archaeologists discovered it in the grave of a man who died between 230 and 270 AD and was buried in a cemetery on the outskirts of Frankfurt. The man probably wore the amulet on a cord around his neck, as it was found directly under his chin.

The purpose of these amulets, also called phylacteries, was to “protect or cure their owners from a variety of misfortunes such as disease, physical pain, infertility, or even demonic forces.” Tine Rassallean independent biblical archaeologist who was not involved in the study told Live Science in an email. “In a time without advanced medical knowledge, such items were vital sources of comfort and safety for you and your loved ones.”

The location of the artifact is rare, she added.

“These amulets were widespread in late antiquity, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean,” Rassalle said, but “in the western Roman world they are much rarer.” The discovery of this amulet in Germany suggests that Christian ideas had already begun to penetrate areas far from the early growth centers of Christianity.

Related: A 1,500-year-old Anglo-Saxon burial holds a “unique” secret – a Roman chalice once filled with pork fat

Although the object was discovered in 2018, experts at the Leibniz Center for Archeology (LEIZA) in Mainz spent several years conserving, restoring and analyzing it before publishing their findings in a opinion Wednesday (December 11th).

“The challenge in the analysis was that the silver sheet was rolled, but after around 1800 years it was of course also grooved and pressed,” Ivan CalandraHead of the imaging platform at LEIZA said in the statement. “Use CT“We were able to scan it at a very high resolution and create a 3D model.”

The virtual 3D model allowed scientists to digitally unroll and analyze the inscription. The 18-line inscription was deciphered by Markus ScholzProfessor at the Institute for Archaeological Sciences at the Goethe University Frankfurt. He said it was unusual that the writing was in Latin. “Typically, such inscriptions on amulets were written in Greek or Hebrew,” Scholz said in the statement.

The “Frankfurt Inscription” reads as follows (the question marks indicate areas of uncertainty):

(In the name?) of Saint Titus. Holy, holy, holy! In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God! The Lord of the world resists with (forces?) all attacks (?)/setbacks (?). The god(?) grants access to well-being. May this means of salvation(?) protect the person who surrenders to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for before Jesus Christ every knee bows: those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth, and every tongue confesses (Jesus Christ).

In the early days of the Roman Empire, practicing Christianity could be risky. The Roman Emperor Nero persecuted Christians in the first century AD; Some were crucified, others had to fight in war Colosseum. This created an atmosphere of fear among early Christians, forcing them to practice secretly in places such as the catacombs in Rome. The fact that this man was buried with his amulet in third-century Germany means that his faith was very important to him, the researchers said.

A similar silver amulet was discovered in Bulgaria in 2023. The Bulgarian amulet, dated around the same time, was also found in a grave near the person’s skull. The inscription mentioned the archangels Michael and Gabriel and referred to the “protection” of Christ. Experts who studied the Bulgarian amulet suggested that this language and the placement of the amulet in a tomb were based on the early Christians’ need to conceal and protect their faith.

Other early metal amulets The religions found in the early Christian world often mix different faiths, including elements of Judaism and Paganism alongside Christianity. According to the researchers, the Frankfurt amulet does not mention any other faith; it is purely Christian.

“What makes this particular example so remarkable is that it is written entirely in Latin and invokes exclusively Jesus Christ and the Christian God,” Rassalle said, which is unusual since most amulets “also appeal to angels, demons or other supernatural entities .”

The text of the Frankfurt Amulet is therefore of enormous importance to scholars of early Christianity, the researchers emphasized, particularly because it contains the earliest example of certain phrases, including “Holy, holy, holy!” – which was not known in Christianity until the fourth century is – and an early quote from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

“This takes our understanding of Western Christianization and Christian monotheism to a whole new level!” said Rassalle.

“The ‘Frankfurt Inscription’ is a scientific sensation,” said the Mayor of Frankfurt Mike Joseph said in the statement. “Thanks to her, the history of Christianity in Frankfurt and far beyond must be turned back by around 50 to 100 years. The first Christian find north of the Alps came from our city: We can be proud of that, especially now, so close to Christmas.

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1,800-year-old silver amulet could rewrite the history of Christianity in the early Roman Empire

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