Earliest inscription of Jesus as God now on display in Washington D.C.

The ancient Megiddo Mosaic, considered the oldest display of Christian faith in the world, is now on exhibit at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., where it will be displayed until July 2025. This mosaic, dating back to around 230 AD, offers evidence of early Christian worship and is the earliest known inscription identifying Jesus as God.

Discovered between 2003 and 2005 by Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) archaeologists during excavations at Kfar Othnay, the 16 by 32-foot mosaic was found beneath the floor of an Israeli prison in Megiddo. The mosaic is believed to be part of the world's first Christian prayer hall and provides invaluable insights into the beliefs and practices of early Christians before the religion was legalized in the Roman Empire.

The Sun, Daily Express and The New York Post reported on the exhibition, among others.

The mosaic bears several inscriptions in Greek, each shedding light on early Christian life. One of the most significant inscriptions reads: "The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial." The dedication is now recognized as the earliest archaeological evidence of Jesus being called God. The reference to Akeptous suggests she was a woman of high standing who played an important role in the community by donating a table used for communion—a key ritual in Christian worship.

Another inscription honors a Roman centurion named Gaianus. "Gaianus, also called Porphyrius, centurion, our brother, has made the mosaic at his own expense as an act of generosity," it reads. The inscriptions highlight the diversity of early Christian communities and indicates a level of coexistence between Romans and Christians during a time when Christianity was outlawed in the Roman Empire.

The mosaic also includes an inscription that mentions four women: Primilla, Cyriaca, Dorothea, and Chreste. "The mosaic underscores the crucial role of women in the early church," said Bobby Duke, director of the Scholars Initiative at the Museum of the Bible.

The mosaic also features images of fish, a symbol of early Christianity associated with the Greek word "ΙΧΘΥΣ" (Ichthys), in reference to Jesus. The symbol relates to biblical stories such as Jesus' calling of Peter and Andrew to be "fishers of men" and the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.

Since its premiere, the exhibit has attracted thousands of visitors from around the world. The mosaic will remain on official loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority until its return to Israel after the exhibition concludes in July 2025.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq