Archaeologists have discovered a ‘significant’ religious relic decorated with Christian motifs hiding inside a marble shrine of an early church excavated in Austria.
The 1,500-year-old ivory box depicts a scene of Moses receiving the 10 Commandments from God on Mount Sinai as described in the Old Testament, along with imagery of saints and the ascension of Christ.
The circular-shaped box is deemed a significant find by archaeologists due to sacred early Christianity objects being extremely rare – the faith is about 2,000 years old.
Researchers noted that only 40 such discoveries have been made worldwide, with the last found during excavations about 100 years ago.
Archaeologists have discovered a ‘significant’ religious relic decorated with Christian motifs hiding inside a marble shrine of an early church excavated in Austria
The 1,500-year-old ivory box depicts a scene of Moses receiving the 10 Commandments from God on Mount Sinai as described in the Old Testament, along with imagery of saints and the ascension of Christ
‘We know that this only happens once in an archaeologist’s life as a scientist,’ said Gerald Grabherr, lead archaeologist.
The team suggested the relic was created less than 100 years after Roman emperor Constantine the Great converted to Christianity, issuing the Edict of Milan in 313 BC that legalized the religion and promoted tolerance of the fait.
Then in 380 BC, emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire – 1,644 years before the ivory box was made.
The discovery was made by researches from the University of Innsbruck, who were excavating an early Christian church that once stood on top of on the Burgbichl in the municipality of Irschen in southern Austria.
The region was once owned by the Roman Empire and the church was likely a pagan sanctuary prior to the emperor’s law more than 1,600 years ago.
The team uncovered a sealing stone in a pit-like depression where an alter once stood and after removing it, they pulled out the white marble box.
The artifact was found broken in pieces, but once formed a pure circle fashioned with metal as the ‘glue’ and wood used as the clasp.
The object was the holiest part of the church and should have been taken before it was abandoned, leaving experts to question why it remained among the ruins.
The characters featured around the box are all men with beards and long robes which depict scenes in the Old and New Testaments.
While archaeologists hypothesized that Moses and Christ are displayed on the box, they admitted the interpretation is not fully known.
For Moses, the team speculated it could be him receiving the laws from God or striking his staff in the water to part the Red Sea as the figure is placed at the foot of a mountain.
Another scene may be imagery of Jesus resurrecting from the burial chamber following the crucifixion.
‘The head is turned in a different direction and with this representation, we can grab [God] handing over the law to Moses,’ Dr Barbara Kainrath who is involved with the research said.
The relic was the holist part of the church and should have been taken before it was abandoned, leaving experts to question why it remained among the ruins
For Moses, the team speculated it could be him receiving the laws from God or striking his staff in the water to part the Red Sea as the figure is placed at the foot of a mountain
The characters featured around the box are all men with beards and long robes which depict scenes in the Old and New Testaments
‘A second scene that we can address well is the figure being pulled up again by a hand that sticks out of the cloud, which is the hand of God again.
‘And here we are dealing with an ascension. In addition to the hand of God, a team of horses is also shown here. You can still see two horses and a wheel from the cart.
The Bible includes several passages with two horses, including Revelations 19:11 which reads: ‘saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.’
The Book of Exodus also discusses the Egyptians riding horses and chariots while pursuing Moses and the Israelites
The church was about 60 feet long and featured a marble threshold at its entrance. To the south and west were burials – the team has uncovered remains of people who once lived in the region who they believe were ‘social upper class’
The box was found inside a marble square box that was discovered under what was once an alter
However, the team noted that Elijah’s ascension to the heavens may also be a possibility.
The Second Book of Kings reads: ‘As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.
Elijah was a prophet known in the Bible as saving the religion of Yahweh from being corrupted by the nature worship of Baal, a comparable being who was worshiped at the same time in Jerusalem.
The team noted that while the box was found in southern Austria, it was unlikely to have been made there due to the lack of materials needed in the region.
‘So the ivory pyx, or box, is certainly a product that was not made in Irschen,’ a researcher said in a video.
‘Because of the quality of workmanship and the artistry of the craftsman, one can be sure that they were located in a major urban center – that craftsman or those craftsmen.
The circular-shaped box was also fashioned with metal as the ‘glue’ for the ivory and wood used as the clasp
Human remains of three adults, a teenager and four children can be recovered and examined in the Natural History Museum in Vienna
‘So we’re assuming an area between Alexandria, Ravenna or – the closest – Aquileia would be conceivable.’
The box was found in several pieces, suggesting it could have broken before it was placed in the large marble box that was found under the ancient church’s shrine.
Either the pyx was already in a destroyed, broken state in the marble cube or someone was tampering with it,’ said Dr Ulrike Tochterle.
‘Presumably someone tried to remove the relic. It is very noticeable that parts were missing, from the fittings for example, and also parts of the relief on the outer wall.’
The church was about 60 feet long and featured a marble threshold at its entrance.
To the south and west were burials – the team has uncovered remains of people who once lived in the region who they believe were ‘social upper class.’
Human remains of three adults, a teenager and four children can be recovered and examined in the Natural History Museum in Vienna.
However, researchers note that the people did not die at the same time and were buried on after the other.
They believe 200 to 300 people lived in teh area in the late antiquity between the 3rd and 7th century AD.
