An ancient baptismal font was unearthed near the Sea of Galilee, providing new insights into how early Christians practiced baptism in the region.
The marble block, found in an ancient baptismal hall, had a cross engraved on the side as well as three bowl-shaped basins, according to a report fromFox Newslast month.
The artifact is 1,400 years old and was uncovered in Hippos, a city that existed during the Byzantine era.
At one point, Hippos was the only Christian city on the Sea of Galilee, overseeing territory where some of Jesus’ earthly ministry occurred.
The cathedral in Hippos was home to two baptismal halls.
One was used for adults, and the other was for infants and children.
The new object was found in the latter hall, which was build in 591 AD but destroyed during an earthquake in 749 AD, per a release shared with Fox News.
The earthquake “buried the marble and bronze artifacts beneath the rubble, preserving them until their recent discovery,” according to the release.
The object, beyond having an eventful history, is largely unique in history, as far as archaeologists can tell.
“After extensive examination and comparison, the scholars concluded that no known parallels to the artifact exist,” the release added.
Source: VidNews » Feed
