Archaeologists unearth ‘significant’ religious relic that depicts Moses receiving the 10 Commandments

Archaeologists have discovered an ‘important’ religious relic decorated with Christian motifs hidden in a marble shrine of an early church unearthed in Austria.

The 1,500-year-old ivory box depicts a scene of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai, as described in the Old Testament. It also features images of saints and the ascension of Christ.

The circular box, made with metal as ‘glue’ for the ivory and wood used as a closure, is considered an important find by archaeologists because sacred early Christian objects were extremely rare.

Researchers noted that only 40 such discoveries have been made worldwide, the last of which was found during excavations about 100 years ago.

The discovery was made by archaeologists from the University of Innsbruck during excavations of an early Christian church that once stood on the Burgbichl in the municipality of Irschen in southern Austria.

The relic was the holiest part of the church and should have been taken before it was abandoned, leaving experts wondering why it was left among the ruins.

The pyx was also probably seen as sacred and was treated as such because it was in contact with a relic. The archaeological and art historical significance of the pyx cannot be denied,” said Gerald Grabherr, chief archaeologist.

The figures depicted on the box are all men with beards and long robes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

Archaeologists suspected that Moses and Christ were depicted on the box, but they admitted that the interpretation of this is not fully known.

The team suspected that Moses received the laws from God or that he struck the water with his staff to part the Red Sea while the statue was placed at the foot of a mountain.

Another scene may depict Jesus rising from the burial chamber after the crucifixion.

‘The head is turned in a different direction and with this performance we can grab hold [God] “The law was passed on to Moses,” said Dr. Barbara Kainrath, who is involved in the research.

‘A second scene that we can deal with well is the figure that is pulled up again by a hand sticking out of the cloud, which is again the hand of God.

‘And here we are dealing with an ascension. In addition to the hand of God, a team of horses can also be seen here. You can still see two horses and a cart wheel.

The Bible contains several passages involving two horses, including Revelation 19:11 which states, “I saw the heavens open, and there before me stood a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.”

The book of Exodus also speaks of the Egyptians pursuing Moses and the Israelites on horseback and in chariots

However, the team noted that Elijah’s ascension could also be a possibility.

The Second Book of Kings reads: ‘While they were walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them both, and Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven.

Elijah was a prophet known in the Bible as the one who saved the religion of Yahweh from destruction by the nature worship of Baal, a similar being worshipped in Jerusalem at the same time.

The team noted that while the box was found in southern Austria, it is unlikely to have been made there due to the lack of necessary materials in the region.

“The ivory pyx, or box, is therefore certainly a product that was not made in Ireland,” a researcher said in a video.

“Because of the quality of the craftsmanship and the artistry of the craftsman, you can be sure they were in a major urban center — that craftsman or those craftsmen.

‘So we assume that an area between Alexandria, Ravenna or – the nearest – Aquileia is conceivable.’

The box was found in several pieces, indicating that it may have been broken before being placed in the large marble chest found under the sanctuary of the old church.

Either the pyx was already in a destroyed, broken state the marble cube or someone has tampered with it,’ said Dr. Ulrike Tochterle.

‘It is likely that someone tried to remove the relic. It is very striking that parts were missing, of the fittings for example, and also parts of the relief on the outside wall.’

The church was about 18 meters long and had a marble threshold at the entrance.

There were burials to the south and west. The team has uncovered remains of people who once lived in the region and who they believe belonged to the ‘social upper class’.

The Natural History Museum in Vienna can house and examine the human remains of three adults, a teenager and four children.

However, researchers note that the people did not die at the same time and were buried one after the other.

They believe that 200 to 300 people lived in the area in late antiquity, between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD.