The silver amulet excavated in Frankfurt’s grave is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Archaeologists have uncovered a ground-breaking artifact in a 3rd-century Roman tomb near Frankfurt, Germany, which provides the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. The artifact, a silver amulet known as the “Frankfurt Silver Inscription,” dates back to around 230-270 AD. and predates previously known Christian artifacts from this region by almost 50 years.

Discovery and Significance

The silver amulet was found during a 2017-2018 excavation of a Roman cemetery in the Heilmannstraße area, the site of the ancient Roman city of Nida. The cemetery, which contained 127 graves, was notable for its unusually high proportion of cremation burials – a practice unusual in other Roman cemeteries in Frankfurt. Among these graves, one stood out: the resting place of a man aged 35-45. Alongside grave goods such as an incense burner and pottery, archaeologists discovered a small rolled-up piece of silver foil under the man’s chin. The amulet, probably worn on a band around the neck, is classified as a phylactery – a container designed to protect the wearer through its contents.

The inscription etched into the amulet’s silver foil was deciphered using advanced computed tomography technology at the Leibniz Center for Archeology (LEIZA) in Mainz. This non-invasive method allowed researchers to digitally “unroll” the fragile scroll, which would have disintegrated if handled manually. The digital imaging process revealed an 18-line Latin text that contained exclusively Christian content—a rarity for its time.

Translation and interpretation

The text of the Frankfurt Silver Inscription translated into English:
(In the name?) of St. Titus.
Holy, holy, holy!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God!
Lord of the world
Resist to the best of your ability?
all attacks(?)/backlashes(?).
The god(?) gives well-being
Access.
This rescue unit(?) protects
the person who
surrenders to the will
of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
since before Jesus Christ
bow all knees: the heavenly ones,
the earthly and
the underground and every tongue
confess (to Jesus Christ).

The text opens with a reference to St. Titus, a disciple of the Apostle Paul, and includes invocations such as “Holy, holy, holy!” and “In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” It also incorporates elements of Christian liturgy, including an almost verbatim quotation from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (Phil. 2:10-11). Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz of Goethe University, Frankfurt, who led the decipherment process, noted that the text’s sophistication suggests that it was crafted by an elaborate scribe, and its purely Christian content is extraordinary for this period, when religious syncretism was more common.

Typically, amulets from this era contained a mixture of Christian, Jewish and pagan elements. But the absence of references to Yahweh, angels or pagan deities in this inscription emphasizes its exclusively Christian nature. This uniqueness not only highlights the wearer’s devotion, but also raises questions about the role of Christianity in Nida, a city that was once a cultural and administrative center of Roman Germany.

Broader implications

The discovery has significant implications for several fields, including archaeology, theology and Roman history. It pushes back the timeline of evidence of Christianity in the region by several decades. Historical sources had hinted at Christian communities in Gaul and Upper Germania as early as the late 2nd century, but tangible evidence north of the Alps was previously limited to the 4th century.

Technological progress and cooperation

The careful preservation and analysis of the amulet exemplifies the benefits of collaboration between institutions. The project involved several organizations and project partners, including the City of Frankfurt on the Main, Archaeological Museum Frankfurt (AMF), Frankfurt Department of Planning and Housing, LEIZA, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, University of Bonn and the Rhine-Main Archeology Network (VARM).

Dr. Ivan Calandra of LEIZA highlighted the challenges posed by the amulet’s age and condition, noting: “The challenge in analyzing the artifact was that the silver sheet was not only rolled, but after approximately 1,800 years was also crumpled and compressed. Using CT- scanner, we were able to scan it in very high resolution and create a 3D model.”

A window into early Christianity

The discovery of the Frankfurt Silver Inscription provides the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity north of the Alps and underscores the interconnectedness of the Roman Empire.

Nida, situated in the hinterland of the upper Germanic limes, was far from a peripheral outpost; it was a vibrant center influenced by various cultural and religious currents. The find invites further research into how Christianity arose and thrived in such a dynamic environment during the 3rd century.