logo
welcome
Live Science

Live Science

1,800-year-old silver amulet could rewrite history of Christianity in the early Roman Empire

Live Science
Summary
Nutrition label

76% Informative

A 1,800-year-old silver amulet discovered in a burial in Germany is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps .

Researchers made the discovery by digitally unrolling a tiny scroll inside the amulet, which revealed an unusual Latin inscription.

The finding may upend historians' understanding of how Christianity was practiced in the early Roman Empire .

The amulet contains the earliest example of certain phrases, such as "Holy, holy, holy!" It contains an early quotation from Paul's Letter to the Philippians .

"This takes our understanding of Western Christianization and Christian monotheism to a whole new level!" Rassalle said.