A discovery has been made, and experts believe the item is linked to Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Artifact from the Ten Commandments
Archeologists were excavating a church at the summit of Burgbichl Hill in Irschen, Austria, when they stumbled upon something incredible—a 1,500-year-old artifact believed to be linked to the Ten Commandments.
A Unique Artifact
The artifact is an ivory box adorned with Christian symbols within a marble shrine. The box features numerous motifs, including a man turning his head with a hand descending from the sky and several biblical figures. This artifact is unique, one of only 40 worldwide.
Making History
Gerald Grabherr is the lead archaeologist for the Innsbruck University excavation, which began in 2016. “The last time one was found during excavations was about 100 years ago. The few pyxes that exist are either preserved in cathedral treasures or exhibited in museums,” explains Grabherr.
A Correlation to the Ten Commandments
Grabherr explains a few key notes that align with artifacts from that era. “This is the typical depiction of the handing over of the laws to Moses on Mount Sinai, the beginning of the covenant between God and man from the Old Testament,” Grabherr said. “The depiction of scenes from the Old Testament alongside those from the New Testament is typical of late antiquity. However, the depiction of the Ascension of Christ with a two-horse chariot is very special and previously unknown.”
Artifacts Accompanying the Ivory Box
The findings weren’t limited to the artifact believed to be associated with the Ten Commandments. For instance, the team also unearthed two churches, a cistern—a waterproof vessel—and some personal belongings of inhabitants believed to have been alive when Moses was purportedly issued the Ten Commandments directly from God.
“Undeniable” Significance
According to Grabherr, people chose to settle on hilltops toward the fall of the Roman Empire due to uncertain times and a desire to protect their homes and families. While further investigations are ongoing, Grabherr explains the artifact has inevitable significance. “The archaeological and art-historical significance of the pyx cannot be denied,” he said.
Studying the Ten Commandments’ Artifact
History is fascinating and sheds light on humanity and civilizations of the past. However, it’s not easy to know the exact recount of an event from hundreds or thousands of years ago. As such, further investigation is the only way to know for certain whether the artifact was present when Moses unveiled the Ten Commandments.
A Summary of the Ten Commandments
For many, religious beliefs have been disproven by science or follow outdated ideologies. However, many of the Ten Commandments are rules to live by to ensure a peaceful world for everyone. For instance, the first three are solely focused on “respecting God.” Meanwhile, the other seven focus on treating others with respect, kindness, and consideration. Therefore, some of the Ten Commandments are as relevant today as they were 1,500 years ago.
Other Interesting Artifacts
Incredibly, the ivory box believed to have been around during the unveiling of the Ten Commandments isn’t the only fascinating discovery made by archeologists, also associated with Biblical times. For instance, the Yahweh Ṣebaot Inscription is a limestone inscription from a burial cave. It was found in Judah, and experts estimate it was made between 800 and 750 B.C.E. The Paleo-Hebrew script appears in the early Torah, particularly in prophetic books like Isaiah.
A Fascinating Bowl
Meanwhile, scientists unearthed a serpentinite bowl from southern Mesopotamia. Some have speculated that the artifact is related to Isaiah’s prophecy of peace: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the lion and the fatling [will dwell] together.” The artifact is estimated to have been made and used between 3300–2900 B.C.E.
Jonah’s Story
Lastly, the Sarcophagus of Jonah was discovered in the 16th century but is estimated to have originated in the 4th century. The artifact depicts three scenes from the biblical book of Jonah: when he’s thrown from the boat when he’s cast into the belly of the beast, and when he is cast ashore and given a plant from God to teach him compassion, according to the book (Jonah 4:4–11).
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Sources
- “Ten Commandments List.” BibleInfo
- “Sarcophagus of Jonah.” MuseiVaticani
- “10 Great Biblical Artifacts at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem.” BA David Moster April 21, 2024.
- “Archeologists discover 1,500-year-old ivory box linked to Moses and the Ten Commandments.” Brighterside of News. Joseph Shavit