More Unearthed Evidence of Early Christianity

Significance of the Silver Scroll Discovery

The discovery of a silver scroll dating back to the early 200s in a Roman cemetery in Frankfurt provides crucial evidence of early Christianity in northern Europe. The scroll, found under the chin of a skeleton and contained within a phylactery, is significant because it features a Latin inscription predominantly centered on Jesus Christ, marking a stark contrast to the Greek inscriptions common in earlier Christian amulets. This find pushes back the timeline for the presence of Christianity north of the Alps and highlights the faith's existence during a period of heightened danger for Christians, given the historical context of persecution from figures like Emperor Nero. The unique focus of the amulet on Christ, avoiding syncretistic elements found in other amulets of the time, suggests a more distinct and sincere expression of faith among early believers in that region.