Archaeologists in Germany have uncovered a rare Christian artefact that may redefine the history of Christianity’s spread in Europe. The discovery, a silver foil amulet known as the “Frankfurt Silver Inscription,” was found in a grave in Nida, an ancient Roman town near Frankfurt.
The burial, dated between A.D. 230 and 270, belonged to a man whose grave contained several items, including the amulet, which is just 1.4 inches long. Experts believe the item was worn for protection, marking it as a phylactery—a type of charm common in the eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity, often used for healing or safeguarding against misfortune.
Using advanced imaging techniques, researchers from the Leibniz Center for Archaeology (LEIZA) digitally unrolled the foil, revealing an 18-line inscription in Latin. Professor Markus Scholz of Goethe University led the decoding process, emphasizing the text’s significance as a testament to the man’s Christian faith. “We approached the text together, piece by piece, and finally deciphered it,” he said.
The use of Latin for the inscription stands out, as such amulets were typically written in Greek or Hebrew. Dr. Tine Rassalle, a biblical archaeologist, noted the rarity of such artefacts in Western Europe, underscoring their historical importance.
Dr. Ina Hartwig, Frankfurt’s head of culture and science, described the find as “extraordinary,” stating that it would influence fields such as archaeology, religious studies, and anthropology for years to come.
This discovery sheds new light on the early presence of Christianity in Roman-era Europe, offering a deeper understanding of the faith’s expansion and influence during a pivotal period in history.
