A team of researchers led by French marine archaeologist Franck Goddio has uncovered this unique artifact during excavations of the ancient harbor of Alexandria.
The cup, which dates back 2,000 years, is remarkably well-preserved, missing only one handle. The artifact features an inscription in Greek: DIA CHRSTOU O GOISTAIS, which translates to “Through Christ the Singer.”
Dr. Jeremiah Johnston, a New Testament specialist, noted that the cup dates to the first century AD—the time when Jesus was crucified. “Jesus had a reputation as a healer, miracle worker, and exorcist. This cup of Jesus is a testament to that,” Johnston stated.
Meanwhile, Goddio suggested that the inscription may have been intended to legitimize certain rituals. The cup closely resembles those depicted in scenes of ancient practices on Egyptian statuettes.
Ancient texts describe how participants in these rituals would pour oil into water and enter an ecstatic trance, seeking to see mystical beings that could answer questions about the future.
Calling upon , who was recognized as a powerful miracle worker, could have lent authority to the ritual. Scholars reminded us that Jesus’ ministry was brief, lasting only three years, yet his name held significant power.
Goddio and his team found the cup on an ancient Egyptian site where the island of Antirhodos was once submerged, and where Cleopatra’s may have been located.
In the first century, Alexandria was a cosmopolitan center where paganism, Judaism, and Christianity intersected, as reported by Daily Mail. Magical practices incorporated imagery from various traditions. Interestingly, the name of Christ sometimes appeared in both pagan and Christian magical texts. As Goddio suggested, it is likely that people in Alexandria at that time were aware of Jesus and his legendary .
While not all authoritative experts are convinced that this is indeed the earliest reference to Christ, the discovery is captivating.
If the inscription truly relates to Jesus, the artifact could represent the oldest material evidence of his existence outside of Christian writings.
