Ancient 1,800-Year-Old Silver Amulet Discovered in Germany Raises Questions About Early Christianity

A 1,800-year-old silver amulet unearthed in a Roman-era grave near Frankfurt, Germany, is offering new insights into the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. The amulet, dated between AD 230 and 270, contains an 18-line Latin inscription, making it the oldest known Christian artifact found north of the Alps. This discovery, detailed in a December 11 study by the Leibniz Center for Archaeology (LEIZA), challenges previous assumptions about the early reach of Christianity and its presence in the western provinces of the Roman Empire.

The amulet, measuring just 3.5 centimeters, was found in a grave containing the remains of a man buried on the outskirts of Frankfurt. Positioned beneath the man’s chin, the amulet is believed to have been worn as a pendant on a cord around his neck. Researchers used high-resolution CT scanning to analyze the delicate, wafer-thin silver sheet housed inside the amulet, creating a 3D model to reveal its intricate inscription. Markus Scholz, a scholar at the Goethe University Institute of Archaeological Sciences, successfully deciphered the text, shedding light on its Christian significance.

What sets this amulet apart is its exclusively Latin inscription, a rare feature among similar artifacts typically found in the eastern Mediterranean, which often include Greek or Hebrew texts. Dr. Tine Rassalle, a biblical archaeologist, noted that such amulets were commonly used in the eastern parts of the Roman Empire, often as protective charms or expressions of faith. The discovery of this artifact in western Europe suggests that Christian communities may have been more widespread and connected than previously thought, even in regions far from Christianity’s traditional centers.

This find underscores the complexity of early Christian practices and the faith’s expansion during the Roman Empire. The amulet not only provides evidence of Christian belief but also highlights the cultural and linguistic adaptations that occurred as Christianity spread westward. Researchers hope this discovery will prompt further investigations into the development of Christian communities in regions traditionally overlooked in historical studies.