Graffiti carved into an old Roman building about 1900 years ago could have been from the crucifixion

It is said to be the earliest and only known image of the crucifixion – a representation of a human-like figure with the head of a donkey nailed to a cross.

The anti-Christian “graffito” was engraved between 50 and 250 AD in a plaster wall of an imperial training school for ancient Roman slaves.

Under the cross is an ancient Greek text that reads “Alexamenos worships God” to mock a person in the drawing who appears to be dressed like a slave.

Another room in the excavated building was found with the inscription “Alexamenos is loyal”. This could either be another dig of the individual or an aid.

The old graffiti was done at a time when Christianity was frowned upon by Romans who practiced paganism. They believed this led them to power, but it does not confirm that it is the image of Jesus Christ.

Archaeologists discovered the image on the wall of a building on the Palatine Hill in Rome in 1857, but the anti-Christian graffiti was brought to light by archaeologist Ticia Verveer.

At the time, it was said that the Romans portrayed Jesus as a donkey to offend the faith.

Tertullian, a Christian theologian who lived from AD 160 to AD 225, wrote about how both Christians and Jews were ridiculed by Romans for worshiping a donkey.

In this matter we are (allegedly) guilty of not only giving up the religion of the community but of instituting monstrous superstitions; Some of you have dreamed that our God was a donkey’s head, ”says the ancient inscription.

Under the cross is an ancient Greek text that reads “Alexamenos worships God” to mock a person in the drawing who appears to be dressed like a slave

Another crucifixion graffito was discovered by archaeologists excavating a Roman colony in Pozzuoli that was once known as Puteoli. The picture was discovered engraved on the wall of a tabernae, a type of shop or stall in old Roma, in 1959 by a team.

“So suppose our God is a stupid person. In any case, are you going to deny that you have the same qualities as us on this matter?

“Not just their heads, but entire donkeys, of course, are objects of worship for you.”

Although some suggest that the image of Jesus is nailed to the cross, no evidence has been found to corroborate the idea.

Another crucifixion graffito was discovered by archaeologists excavating a Roman colony in Pozzuoli that was once known as Puteoli, Patheos reported

The picture was discovered engraved on the wall of a tabernae, a type of shop or stall in old Roma, in 1959 by a team.

This picture offers more detail than the previous one as it is named “Alkimilla” and has markings on the body that suggest the woman was flogged

A total of eight tabernae were discovered, but tabernae 5 was destroyed with a carving of a woman nailed to a cross.

The cross is 40 cm high, the cross piece is 26 cm long and the figure is 35 cm high.

It is believed to have been made during the reign of Trajan or Hadrian around 1900 years ago.

However, this picture offers more detail than the previous one as it is named “Alkimilla” and has markings on the body that suggest the woman was flogged.

The Romans had great disdain for Christians, believing it was a revolution rather than a practicing belief, and thought that failures in the empire were due to their practices.

For example, a fire destroyed much of Rome in AD 64, and to avoid guilt, the Emperor Nero murdered a “large crowd” of Christians as scapegoats.

Then, in the 3rd century, the economy of ancient Rome collapsed, there was political chaos, the military revolted, and a barbarian invasion nearly destroyed world power – and Christians were blamed again.

The Romans believed that it was the Christian’s denial of the gods that was supposed to protect Rome, causing it to almost fall.

And in order to regain this divine protection, the emperors introduced the systematic persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire.