Archaeologists have discovered an ancient silver inscription in Germany that provides early evidence of Christianity north of Italy. The Frankfurt silver inscription, dated between 230 and 260 A.D., is considered one of the most important testimonies of early Christianity worldwide.
Found wrapped in a small silver amulet in a third-century grave in Hesse, Germany, the inscription consists of 18 lines written in Latin. It begins with a prayer to Saint Titus and Jesus Christ, and calls for protection from the Lord.
The inscription was deciphered using advanced technological equipment, including computed tomography, after being digitally unrolled from its crumpled state. The text took several weeks to translate due to its deteriorated condition.
Experts say the inscription is unusual because it is completely in Latin, unlike other amulets of this time period that were written in Greek or Hebrew. It also does not reference Judaism or contain any pagan elements, making it a unique find.
The discovery provides significant evidence for the spread of Christianity in northern Europe during the late Roman Empire era. As such, it will “enormously enrich previous research on the spread of Christianity,” according to Goethe University professor Markus Scholz.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-uncover-earliest-known-evidence-christianity-north-alps-unusual-time