The “Megiddo Mosaic,” a mosaic discovered in ancient Megiddo, northern Israel, including the oldest known inscription proclaiming Jesus as God, is on exhibit at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. (U.S.).
The Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS) states that the mosaic “adds much to our understanding of early Christian communities in the Holy Land. ” It will be on exhibit from September 1 until July 6, 2025.
The mosaic inscriptions include, “The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.”
The 16ft (4.87m) by 32ft (9.75m) mosaic had been laid over the floor of a Christian worship hall.
The BAS outlined that Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) archaeologists who were excavating at Kfar Othnay between 2003 and 2005 discovered a “Roman—and Byzantine-era settlement identified within the grounds of the modern Megiddo Prison.” Before transporting the artefact to the museum, they cleansed and preserved it.
“Astonishingly, this hall formed a wing of a large residential building used by Roman soldiers, namely the Sixth Ironclad Legion stationed at the nearby military camp of Legio,” stated the BAS. Dating from around 230 CE, the hall is the earliest monument in Israel dedicated to Christian worship.
The exhibition “The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith”, organized in collaboration with the IAA, exposes Greek inscriptions and ornate motifs in the mosaic. According to experts, the inscriptions are believed to be associated with members of a local ancient church, five of whom are women.
The mosaic’s inscriptions include, “The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.”
Museum specialists consider this to be an early confirmation of Christ’s divinity, occurring approximately one hundred years before the Council of Nicea.
“The inscription tells us Akeptous donated the table, the focus of the room. She may have been a woman with financial resources and social standing. She is called Philotheos, “God lover.” The table stood at the center of the room and was likely used in the celebration of the Eucharist, or Lord’s Supper,” reads the museum’s online description.
The other mosaic inscriptions are: “Gaianus, also called Porphyrius, centurion, our brother, has made the mosaic at his own expense as an act of generosity.” This Latin name, used colloquially as Porphyrius, hints the mosaic funder came from an eastern province and may have personally dedicated the mosaic.
Also, “Brutius has carried out the work.” This likely refers to a “tessellarius” (Mosaic floor maker) who did the work. These mosaic craftsmen were considered highly skilled in the Roman Empire.
Finally, “Remember Primilla and Cyriaca and Dorothea, and lastly, Chreste,” showcase an example of the importance of women in the early church.
“The wording of this inscription is unusual in that, typically, the request is that God remember individuals,” notes the museum description. “Here, the community itself is called to remember these women. Nothing else is known of the women mentioned here. While they were clearly important to the community, the inscription does not tell us whether they were patrons of the community (like Akeptous), or martyrs, or honored for some other reason.”
The depiction of the two fish in the middle of the mosaic refers to the miracle of the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish, suggesting that the early Christians did not regard the miracles of the Saviour as legends or myths.
Even if Christians have always considered Christ to be the Son of God, as we state in the Symbol of Faith, this inscription historically validates the Church’s position.
Photo: Museum of the Bible Washington
