Augustus
Sculpture of Augustus with a cross superimposed on his forehead, Ephesus Museum. At Ephesus, crosses were added in a very public way to the forehead of Augustus, transforming the emperor into a Christian penitent.
Rise of Christianity
Sardis
Christian graffiti in the Temple of Artemis at Sardis. Closer to Laodicea, the Temple of Artemis at Sardis is covered with similarly carved crosses.
Laodicaea
Column drum fragment inscribed with a menorah and a superimposed cross, Laodicea. This fragment, which was published in a brief note by the excavator, Celal Şimşek, in 2006, was discovered in the ruins of Nymphaeum.
Crucifixion Bone Fragment, 21 CE
Crucifixion Bone Fragment Crucifixion Bone Fragment Close-Up The heel bone of Yehohanan ben Hagkol, a Jewish resident of Jerusalem. This heel bone punctured by an iron nail is the only tangible evidence for the practice of crucifixion to have been discovered in archaeological excavations. The bone was found inside an ossuary in a cave in […]
The Rise of the Early Church
Excerpted from Lawrence H. Schiffman, From Text to Tradition, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ, 1991. The earliest years of Christianity unfolded during this period of decline and unrest. In these years what would later be called the “church” was in reality a Jewish sect, and that is how it is treated here. The difficult economic and political […]
Early Christian Prayer Hall, 3rd century CE
In the late 1990s, authorities at the prison that sits near the base of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel decided they needed more room. Accordingly, an addition was planned within the prison compound and work commenced. It was not long, however, before the construction workers (prisoners) hit ancient remains. Work on the prison extension was […]
Pagan Coin, 26-36 CE
The Romans issued this coin during the time that Pontius Pilate governed Judaea (26-36 CE). The coin shows the curved stick that was the symbol of the Roman priest that forecast the future. The Jews considered it offensive to their religion to be forced to use coins depicting pagan symbols.
Toldot Yeshu: A Counter-History of Early Christianity from the Byzantine Period
From Toldot Yeshu In the year 3671[1] in the days of King Jannaeus, a great misfortune befell Israel, when there arose a certain disreputable man of the tribe of Judah, whose name was Joseph Pandera. He lived at Bethlehem, in Judah. Near his house dwelt a widow and her lovely and chaste daughter named Miriam. Miriam was betrothed to […]
Acts 9:1-31: Paul’s Revelation on the Road to Damascus
1- But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2- and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3- Now as he journeyed he approached […]
Acts 3-5: Peter and John Perform Miracles at the Gates of the Temple and Gains Followers
Chapter 3 1- Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2- And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple. 3- Seeing […]