The earliest known proof of Christianity north of Italy was recently revealed by archaeologists, who call the discovery one of the “most important testimonies of early Christianity.”
The artifact, which was published last week by the Frankfurt Archaeological Museum, is called the Frankfurt Silver Inscription. The inscription, discovered in 2018, was analyzed and studied for years before it was finally released to the public this month.
The silver inscription from Frankfurt is an engraving on silver foil consisting of 18 lines written in Latin. It dates from the period between 230 and 260 AD and was discovered encased in a small silver amulet.
In a press release translated from German, the museum explained that the artifact was found in a third-century grave in Hesse, Germany, in what was once the former Roman city of Nida. The inscription begins: “In the name of Saint Titus, holy, holy, holy! In the name of Jesus Christ, God’s Son!”
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Experts recently decoded and released the earliest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps, found in a third-century tomb. (Archaeological Museum Frankfurt)
Saint Titus was a first-century Christian missionary and disciple of the Apostle Paul. The inscription also calls for the amulet to “protect the man whom the Lord gives to the will” Jesus Christ, God’s Son.”
“The heavenly, the earthly, and the subterranean, and every tongue confess (to Jesus Christ),” the text concludes.
The inscription was written in Latin and it took several weeks to decipher the inscription due to its deteriorated condition. Archaeologists had to “digitally unroll” the silver foil, which had been crumpled for about 1,800 years.
Using computer tomography and the latest technological equipment, the text was finally decoded in May. It was then translated over a longer period of time.
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The early Christian inscription was written in Latin, which was unusual at the time. (Archaeological Museum Frankfurt)
“Sometimes it took weeks, even months, before I came up with the next idea,” said Professor Markus Scholz of Goethe University about the translation process. “I called in experts from the history of theology and, piece by piece, we approached the text together and ultimately deciphered it.”
Scholz added that the inscription was “very refined” and called its author “an elaborate writer”.
“It is unusual that the inscription is entirely in Latin,” Scholz said. ‘This is unusual for this time. Such inscriptions were usually written in amulets in Greek or Hebrew.’
Not only is the inscription not written in Hebrew, it also makes no reference to Judaism at all and contains no pagan elements, making it even more unique.
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The silver foil was ‘rolled out digitally’ and translated by experts. (Archaeological Museum Frankfurt)
“It is unusual that the inscription makes no reference to any faith other than Christianity,” the museum’s press release said. “Usually, until the fifth century, a mixture of different beliefs can always be expected with these types of precious metal amulets. Elements of Judaism or pagan influences are often still present.”
But in this amulet neither Yahweh, the almighty God of Judaism, nor the archangels Raphael, Gabriel, Michael or Suriel are mentioned, nor ancestors of Israel such as Isaac or Jacob. And also no pagan elements such as demons. The amulet is purely Christian. “
The press release called the artifact “one of the most important testimonies of early Christianity worldwide.”
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“Until now there has been no such early, authentic evidence of pure Christianity north of the Alps,” the statement said. “All (other) finds are at least about 50 years younger.”
The silver foil was found in a grave from the third century. (Archaeological Museum Frankfurt)
“There are historical references to the first Christian groups in Gaul and perhaps also in the province of Upper Germanic at the end of the second century,” the statement said. “However, some evidence of Christian life in the northern Alpine regions of the Roman Empire generally only comes from the fourth century AD.”
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“Experts agree that these 18 lines will greatly enrich previous research on the spread of Christianity and the late period of Roman rule on the right of the Rhine.”
