Archaeologists have unearthed a silver amulet containing an 18-line text that could rewrite the history of Christianity in the Roman Empire. The ancient artifact was discovered buried in a grave in Frankfurt, Germany, between 230 and 270 AD.
The inscription, which dates back to the third century AD, is the oldest known devotion to Christianity north of the Alps. Computer technology played a crucial role in deciphering the mystery of the text hidden within the silver amulet. The find has significant implications for archaeology, religious studies, philology, and anthropology.
The silver amulet was found at an archaeological site outside of Frankfurt, where it was buried alongside its occupant’s skeleton. Microscopic examinations and X-rays revealed a thin silver foil with the inscription, which was too brittle to roll out. A state-of-the-art computer tomograph helped analyze the crumpled and pressed silver sheet.
The 18 lines of text were deciphered by Markus Scholz from Frankfurt’s Goethe University, who worked with experts from various fields to piece together the original inscription. The translation includes phrases such as “In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God” and “the person who surrenders to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This discovery shows that association with Christianity was still a perilous act in the third century AD.
The scientific study is bolstered by references never found so early, including mentions of Saint Titus and the invocation “holy, holy, holy!” The find is expected to have significant repercussions for historians and scholars studying the spread of Christianity.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/archaeologists-found-skeleton-wearing-amulet-133000866.html