18th Century Silver Amulet Contains Oldest Known Christian Inscription North of the Alps
A 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered in Germany has revealed the oldest known evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. The amulet, measuring 1.4 inches long, was found with the skeleton of a man at a burial site on the outskirts of Frankfurt, Germany. Using CT scans, researchers have finally deciphered the 18-line engraving on a thin piece of foil, which dates back to between 230 and 270 AD.
The inscription is written entirely in Latin and makes references to Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, as well as Saint Titus, an early Christian missionary and church leader. The text is considered “purely Christian” as it does not contain any pagan references or elements of Judaism.
The amulet was discovered in 2018 in northwest Frankfurt, in the former Roman city of Nida, and was taken from the grave of a man who was also buried with an incense bowl and a jug made of fired clay. The man’s grave has been dated to the 3rd century AD, a time when Christianity was still spreading over Europe from its historical origin in the Middle East.
The find is significant not only because of its age but also because it provides insight into the early Christian community in Germany. Until now, the earliest evidence of Christianity in the region dated back to the 5th century.
Experts believe that the wearer of the amulet was a devout Christian who took it with him to the grave, and that he considered his faith so important that he wanted to be buried with it. The find has been hailed as a “scientific sensation” and is expected to have a significant impact on research into the history of Christianity.