Quick Bytes
- Archaeologists in Austria discover a 1,500-year-old Christian relic.
- The ivory box features biblical scenes, including Moses and the ascension of Christ.
- This rare artifact adds significant historical value to early Christian studies.
- The relic may originate from a major urban center like Alexandria or Ravenna.
Historic Christian Relic Unearthed in Austria
In a remarkable archaeological find, a team from the University of Innsbruck has uncovered a 1,500-year-old ivory box with Christian motifs in southern Austria.
The discovery, made at an early Christian church site, features a marble shrine containing the ornate box. The artifact is adorned with intricate scenes, including Moses receiving the Ten Commandments and the ascension of Christ, reflecting the rich religious artistry of the early Christian era. Gerald Grabherr, the lead archaeologist, expressed the rarity of such a find, with only 40 known examples worldwide.
The excavation took place atop the Burgbichl in Irschen, a region with historical ties to the Roman Empire. Beneath a sealing stone where an altar once stood, researchers found the marble box housing the fragmented ivory piece. The characters depicted on the box, all bearded men in long robes, are believed to represent biblical figures from both the Old and New Testaments, with Moses and Christ being key figures.
Further discoveries at the church site included burials of what is thought to be the social elite of the time. The origin of the relic points to a major urban center, as the materials required for its creation were not locally available. The fragmented state of the box suggests it may have been intentionally broken, possibly during an attempt to remove it from the shrine.
This significant find not only highlights the scarcity of early Christian sacred objects but also provides a window into the religious and cultural landscape of the time.
Image Credits
- Photo credit: Brett Jordan
