Archaeologists discover ‘important’ religious relic depicting Moses receiving the 10 Commandments

Archaeologists have discovered an “important” religious relic decorated with Christian motifs hidden in 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 images of saints and the ascension of Christ.

The circular box is considered an important find by archaeologists because sacred objects from early Christianity were extremely rare: the faith is about 2,000 years old.

Researchers noted that only 40 such discoveries have been made worldwide, the last of which was found during excavations about 100 years ago.

Archaeologists have discovered an ‘important’ religious relic decorated with Christian motifs hidden in a marble shrine of an early church unearthed 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 statues of saints and the ascension of Christ

“We know this only happens once in an archaeologist’s life as a scientist,” said Gerald Grabherr, chief archaeologist.

The team suggested the relic was created less than 100 years after Roman Emperor Constantine the Great converted to Christianity and issued the Edict of Milan in 313 B.C., legalizing the religion and promoting tolerance for the faith.

In 380 BC, Emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica, making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. This was 1644 years before the ivory box was made.

The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Innsbruck, who were excavating an early Christian church that once stood atop the Burgbichl in the municipality of Irschen in southern Austria.

The region was once owned by the Roman Empire and the church was probably a pagan shrine before the imperial law, more than 1600 years ago.

The team discovered a sealing stone in a pit-like cavity where an altar once stood. After removing the stone, they took out the white marble box.

The artifact was found broken into pieces, but once formed a neat circle, formed with metal as the ‘glue’ and wood as the closure.

The object was the holiest part of the church and should have been taken before it was abandoned, leaving experts wondering why it was left among the ruins.

The characters around the box are all men with beards and long robes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

Although archaeologists hypothesized that Moses and Christ are depicted on the box, they admitted that the interpretation is not fully known.

For Moses, the team speculated that he would receive the laws of God or that he would strike his staff into the water to part the Red Sea, while the figure is placed at the foot of a mountain.

Another scene may depict Jesus rising from the burial chamber after the crucifixion.

‘The head is turned in a different direction and with this performance we can grab hold [God] “I hand over the law to Moses,” says Dr. Barbara Kainrath, who is involved in the research.

The relic was the holistic part of the church and should have been taken before it was abandoned, leaving experts wondering why it was left among the ruins.

For Moses, the team speculated that he might receive the laws from God or that he might strike the water with his staff to part the Red Sea, while the statue was placed at the foot of a mountain.

The characters depicted around the box are all men with beards and long robes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments

‘A second scene that we can discuss well is the figure being pulled up again by a hand sticking out of the cloud. That 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 can also be seen here. You can still see two horses and a cart wheel.

The Bible contains several passages featuring two horses, including Revelation 19:11 which states, “I saw heaven opened, and before me stood a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.”

The book of Exodus also speaks of the Egyptians pursuing Moses and the Israelites on horseback and in chariots

The church was about 60 feet long and had a marble threshold at the entrance. To the south and west were burials – the team has discovered remains of people who once lived in the area and who they believe were “social upper class”

The box was found in a marble square box that was discovered under what was once an altar

However, the team noted that Elijah’s ascension could 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 them both, and Elijah ascended into heaven in a whirlwind.

Elijah was a prophet known in the Bible to have saved the religion of Yahweh from corruption through the nature worship of Baal, a similar being worshiped in Jerusalem at the same time.

The team noted that while the box was found in southern Austria, it is unlikely to have been made there due to the lack of necessary materials in the region.

“So the ivory pyx, or box, is definitely a product not made in Irschen,” one researcher said in a video.

“Because of the quality of the craftsmanship and the artistry of the craftsman, you can be sure they were in a major urban center — that craftsman or those craftsmen.

The circular box was also made using metal as the ‘glue’ for the ivory and wood used as a closure

Human remains of three adults, a teenager and four children can be recovered and examined at the Natural History Museum in Vienna

‘We therefore assume that an area between Alexandria, Ravenna or – the nearest – Aquileia would be conceivable.’

The coffin was found in several pieces, suggesting that it could have broken before being placed in the large marble coffin found under the sanctuary of the old church.

Either the pyx was already in a destroyed, broken state the marble cube or someone was messing with it,’ said Doctor Ulrike Tochterle.

‘Presumably someone tried to remove the relic. It is very striking that parts were missing, for example the fittings, and also parts of the relief on the outside wall.’

The church was about 18 meters long and had a marble threshold at the entrance.

There were burials to the south and west. The team has uncovered remains of people who once lived in the region and who they believe belonged to the ‘social upper class’.

Human remains of three adults, a teenager and four children can be recovered and examined at the Natural History Museum in Vienna.

However, researchers note that the people did not die at the same time and were buried one after the other.

They believe that in late antiquity, between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD, 200 to 300 people lived in the area.