Archaeologists have discovered a groundbreaking artifact in a 3rd-century Roman tomb near Frankfurt, Germany, providing the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. The artifact, a silver amulet known as the “Frankfurt Silver Inscription,” dates to around 230-270 AD and is almost 50 years older than previously known Christian artifacts from this region.

Discovery and meaning

The silver amulet was found in 2017-2018 during excavations at a Roman cemetery in the Heilmannstrasse area, the site of the ancient Roman city of Nida. The burial ground with 127 graves was characterized by an unusually high proportion of body burials – a practice that is unusual in other Roman cemeteries in Frankfurt. Among these graves, one stood out: the resting place of a man aged 35 to 45. In addition to grave goods such as an incense burner and pottery, archaeologists discovered a small rolled silver sheet under the man’s chin. The amulet, probably worn on a ribbon around the neck, is classified as a phylactery – a container intended to protect the wearer through its contents.

The inscription engraved into the amulet’s silver foil was deciphered using state-of-the-art computer tomography technology at the Leibniz Center for Archeology (LEIZA) in Mainz. This non-invasive method allowed researchers to digitally “unroll” the fragile scroll, which would have disintegrated if handled manually. The digital imaging process revealed an 18-line Latin text that contained exclusively Christian content – a rarity for the time.

Translation and interpreting

The text of the Frankfurt silver inscription translated into English:
(In the name?) of Saint Titus.
Holy, holy, holy!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God!
The Lord of the World
defends himself to the best of his ability
all attacks(?)/relapses(?).
The god(?) gives well-being
Permit.
This rescue device(?) protects
the person who
surrenders to the will
of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
since before Jesus Christ
Bend all knees: the heavenly ones,
the earthly and
the underground and every tongue
confess (to Jesus Christ).

The text begins with a reference to St. Titus, a disciple of the Apostle Paul, and includes invocations such as “Holy, holy, holy!” and “In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God.” It also contains elements of Christian liturgy, including a almost verbatim quote from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:10-11). Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz of Goethe University Frankfurt, who led the decryption process, noted that the text’s complexity suggests that it was written by a skilled scribe, and that its purely Christian content was appropriate for this period when religious syncretism was more common. is exceptional.

Typically, amulets from this period contained a mix of Christian, Jewish and pagan elements. However, the absence of references to Yahweh, angels or pagan deities in this inscription underlines its exclusively Christian character. This uniqueness not only highlights the wearer’s devotion, but also raises questions about the role of Christianity in Nida, a city that was once a cultural and administrative center of Roman Germania.

Further implications

The discovery has significant implications for several fields, including archaeology, theology and Roman history. It shifts the time horizon for evidence of Christianity in the region by several decades. Historical sources had already pointed to Christian communities in Gaul and Upper Germany in the late 2nd century, but tangible evidence north of the Alps was previously limited to the 4th century.

Technological advances and collaboration

The amulet’s careful preservation and analysis illustrate the benefits of collaboration between institutions. Several organizations and project partners were involved in the project, including the city of Frankfurt am Main, the Archaeological Museum Frankfurt (AMF), the Frankfurt Office for Building and Housing, LEIZA, the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, the University of Bonn and the Rhine – Main Archaeological Network (VARM).

Dr. Ivan Calandra of LEIZA highlighted the challenges posed by the age and condition of the amulet, noting: “The challenge in analyzing the artifact was that the silver sheet was not only rolled, but also buckled after about 1,800 years and was compressed.” With the CT scanner we were able to scan it in very high resolution and create a 3D model.”

A window into early Christianity

The discovery of the Frankfurt silver inscription provides the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity north of the Alps and underlines the interconnectedness of the Roman Empire.

Nida, located in the hinterland of the Upper Germanic Limes, was anything but a peripheral outpost; It was a vibrant center influenced by various cultural and religious trends. The find invites further investigation into how Christianity emerged and thrived in such a dynamic environment in the third century.