Archaeologists have discovered a silver amulet north of the Alps that one theologian says could rewrite the history of Christianity.
The carved amulet was found buried in a grave in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2018, according to a news release from the city. According to the city, the amulet is just over an inch in size and has a thin silver foil wrapped inside and engraved inside. It took many years to determine the contents of the inscription. The foil was too fragile to unroll, so a computer scan had to be used to decipher it. The so-called “Frankfurt Silver Inscription” was opened to the public in early December.
The inscription turned out to be a declaration of faith in Jesus Christ written in Latin. The statement indicates that the wearer was “clearly a devout Christian, which is completely unusual in this case,” the city said.
Researchers dated the tomb where the amulet was found to between 230 and 270 AD. The city said this is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. All other finds are decades old, and there is “credible evidence” that religion in the area dates back to the 4th century.
Leibniz Institute of Archaeology, Mainz
The inscription does not mention any religion other than Christianity, which researchers said is unusual. Until the 5th century, this type of amulet “always had a mix of different faiths”, including Judaism and paganism. Instead, it is entirely Christian-based. At some point, a call arose: “Holy, holy, holy!” exists. Researchers had previously dated the invocation to the 4th century. The amulet also contained quotations from the Bible, which was used by Christians at the time.
“The Frankfurt Inscription is a scientific sensation,” Mayor Mike Josef said in a translated statement. “This would force us to look back some 50 to 100 years on the history of Christianity in Frankfurt and beyond. Our city was the first to be discovered north of the Alps. We can be proud of that, especially now that we’re so close to Frankfurt.”The guys involved did a great job. ”
Researchers said the discovery would lead to a re-evaluation of the burial site where the amulet was found. It will also lead to a reconsideration of the way we think about Christianity north of the Alps.
German church historian Ulrich Wolpe told the Evangelical Press that the amulet helps us understand how Christianity spread through the Roman Empire in the third century, despite persecution. Ta.
“The importance of this discovery cannot be overestimated,” Volpe said.
The news is that a newly deciphered 1,600-year-old manuscript has been discovered by German experts. The earliest record of Jesus Christ’s childhood.
