Archaeologists uncover mysterious Christian artifact near waters tied to Jesus’ministry: ‘No known parallel’

A Byzantine-era discovery at Hippos includes a ceremonial object tied to early Christian worship near the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus preached.(Art Media/Print Collector/Getty Images;Michael Eisenberg)

The smaller hall was constructed after 591 A.D.and wasdestroyed by an earthquakein 749 A.D.— meaning the object is roughly 1,400 years old.

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Officials described the artifact as “a rectangular block bearing three hemispheric cavities, found beside a baptismal font in a newly revealed ceremonial hall.”

Researchers believe the block may have held three different oils used during a threefold baptismal immersion ceremony.

“The collapse buried the marble and bronze artifacts beneath the rubble, preserving them until their recent discovery.”

Pictures of the object show the weathered marble block with three bowl-shaped basins, suggesting it was designed to hold liquids side by side.

Early Christian baptisms more commonly involved two anointings before and after the rite — which makes the three-part design particularly unusual.

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“The collapse buried the marble and bronze artifacts beneath the rubble, preserving them until their recent discovery,” the release noted.

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Officials added, “After extensive examination and comparison, the scholars concluded that no known parallels to the artifact exist.”

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A marble block with three carved basins found at Hippos may point to a previously unknown step in early Christian baptism rituals.(Michael Eisenberg)

Michael Eisenberg, a University of Haifa archaeologist who recentlypublished the resultsin the journal PEQ, along withcolleague Arleta Kowalewska, said the object was found among a variety of “remarkable liturgical objects,” including a bronze candelabrum used to hold candles.

“Only after careful research did we realize how unique they are for understandingChristian ritual practicesin the cradle of Christianity by the Sea of Galilee,” he said.

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The ancient city of Hippos, near regions tied to Jesus’ ministry, served as a major center of early Christian life.(Fine Art Images/Heritage Images via Getty Images;Michael Eisenberg)

“Realizing that it is a one-of-a-kind artifact that may fill unknown regional and perhaps wider lacunae in one of the most ancient and sacred Christian ceremonies was a complete surprise.”

Eisenberg said the findings may “open a portal” to the development of baptism rituals in the early Christian world.

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a rare glimpseinto how the baptismal rite was shaped and practiced in the Byzantine Christian community of Hippos.”

The bronze candelabrum, seen at right, is one of several religious objects uncovered at Hippos, a key Christian site during the Byzantine era.(Michael Eisenberg)

The find joins a long list of significant archaeological discoveries found at Hippos in recent years.

Last year, excavators in Hippos found a1,600-year-old Christian care facilityfor the elderly, which is possibly the world’s oldest nursing home.

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Last July, metal detectorists found atrove of ancient jewelryand gold coins near ruins in Hippos.