The greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls: the earliest inscription "God Jesus" (5 photos)

The earliest inscription that says "God Jesus" was found under the floor of Israel's Megiddo prison and is now on display in the United States. The 1,800-year-old mosaic contains the ancient Greek line: "God-loving Aqeptus gave the table in memory of God Jesus Christ."





The 54-square-meter mosaic decorated the world's first prayer hall in 230 AD, proving that Christians believed from the beginning that Jesus was the Son of God.

The intricate work also includes images of fish, which may be a reference to Luke 9:16, when Jesus was able to feed 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread.



The discovery was made back in 2005, but it has only now been loaned to the museum in Washington until July 2025.

Carlos Campo, the museum's director, called the mosaic the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls, while his colleagues noted that it is the most valuable archaeological discovery for understanding the early Christian church.

"We are truly among the first to be able to see and feel what was created almost 2,000 years ago by a master craftsman named Brutius," Campo commented.





The Megiddo mosaic was found in the Jezreel Valley, where the final battle between good and evil is said to take place.

The excavations, led by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), lasted four years and resulted in the restoration of a 54-square-meter floor. It also mentioned the name of the Roman officer who commissioned the mosaic during the Roman occupation of Judea: "Gaianus, a pious Roman officer, made this mosaic with his own money."

The researchers believe that this may serve as evidence that the Romans and Christians lived in relative peace, despite numerous stories of wars and bloodshed.

The team also discovered a Roman camp nearby, further confirming the peaceful coexistence.



In addition to Aceptus, who was mentioned for donating a table for the prayer hall, the inscription on the mosaic reads: "Remember Primilla, Cyriacus, Dorothea, and finally Chreste."

"While these women certainly played an important role in the life of the community, the inscription does not allow us to determine whether they were patrons like Aceptus, or martyrs, or were venerated for some other reason," the Museum of the Bible said.



The IAA had to cut the floor into pieces and place them in 11 crates, which were shipped to the United States earlier this year for an exhibition called "The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith."

After the exhibition, the artifact will be returned to Israel. It will be on public display at the very spot where it was discovered, and the Megiddo prisoners will be transferred to another facility.