The silver sheet bears inscriptions referencing the archangels Gabriel and Michael, as well as a reference to the "Guardian," Christ.
Deultum-Debelt National Archaeological ReviewThe silver foil would have been worn as an amulet.
During excavations of the Deultum-Debelt National Archaeological Reserve near the village of Debelt in Bulgaria, archaeologists recently uncovered a curious silver amulet.
The amulet was rather nondescript: a thin sheet of tightly rolled silver foil. Upon closer examination, however, the researchers discovered that it bore an inscription that mentions the archangels Michael and Gabriel, as well as the “Guardian,” interpreted to mean Jesus Christ.
Now, researchers have dated the amulet to sometime around the late 2nd century to early 3rd century C.E. — making it the oldest Christian artifact ever found in Bulgaria.
The Discovery Of The Small Silver Amulet
Archaeologists uncovered the amulet while excavating the grave of a young man. Initially, researchers believed the object was nothing more than a silver ingot. However, they soon realized that it was actually a thin sheet of silver foil, tightly rolled up.
The owner likely would have placed the rolled-up silver into a leather or fabric holder and worn it as a pendant. It is also possible they could have kept it hidden somewhere in their clothing.
Christianity was not always a widely accepted religion in Bulgaria. Pagan beliefs dominated the region for centuries before the country’s Christianization in the 9th century C.E., when Tsar Boris I made Christianity the state religion. Prior to this, many Christians in the region were careful to keep their beliefs close to the chest.
“Early Christians were careful not to be recognized and used various symbols to refer to Christ,” Dora Todorova, curator of the Deultum-Debelt National Archaeological Reserve Museum, told BTA. “In this case, the amulet is placed in a grave, near the head of the person buried in it, away from people’s eyes.”
Todorova pointed out that the name of Christ is written on the amulet, but that the first letter is rotated at about 45 degrees, forming the shape of a cross: “+ΡЄICTOC.” She said this was a common feature among early Christian inscriptions.
Thankfully, researchers were able to unfurl the foil sheet without causing any damage, allowing them to properly study it.
The Earliest Known Reference To Christ In Bulgaria
Dating was conducted by epigrapher Dr. Nikolay Sharankov of Sofia University. According to Sharankov’s report, the dating on the amulet makes it the oldest artifact with a reference to Christ ever found in Bulgarian territory. This was not all too surprising, as Deultum, founded in the 1st century C.E., was the first colony in Bulgaria known to have a Christian community.
Sharankov noted that the amulet was unusual in another manner: It bore an explicit reference to Christ.
“Inscriptions visible to the public rarely overtly disclosed early Christians’ religious allegiance,” Sharankov said in a press release. “They often utilized innocuous symbols such as birds or fish, or veiled expressions like ‘God’ that didn’t draw suspicion.”
Deultum was first founded in 70 C.E. by Vespasian, serving as a colony for veterans of the Legio VIII Augusta. It was the second Roman colony on the Balkan Peninsula and the only colony of Roman citizens ever founded in Bulgarian territory.
The amulet recovered at the site is now on display at the Deultum-Debelt National Archaeological Reserve Museum.
After reading about the discovery of this early Christian relic, learn all about what Jesus really looked like. Then, learn about how Jesus’ real name changed from Yeshua.
