Archaeologists have made the remarkable discovery of an ancient Greek “cancer-treating” amulet. (Image: Turkish Ministry of Culture)
The Ancient Greek city of Pisidia Antioch, located in the southwestern province of Isparta, , has yielded some incredible artefacts over the past century that have given archaeologists a glimpse into life during the early phases of Christian history, including inscriptions, kitchen tools and coins.
This year’s most intriguing discovery comes in the form of a “-treating” amulet – believed to have special powers to protect the wearer or bring good fortune.
The well-preserved artefact was discovered during excavations on Aedilicus Hill and is thought to date back to the Hellenistic era (323 – 30 BC), .
It is understood that a father had the amulet commissioned for his ailing daughter, wearing it as a pendant.
The amulet features a crab, which is believed to represent cancer. The ancient Greek word for crab, “karkinos”, is the origin of the modern word for the devastating disease.
Well-wishing inscriptions can be found on the other side of the object.
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The amulet was found by archaeologists in the ancient city of Pisidia Antioch, modern-day Turkey. (Image: Dosseman)
Ancient amulets believed to have magical properties were once commonly used throughout antiquity – from the to Egypt and today’s Middle East.
Another special amulet was discovered this month, this time in – and has been tipped to rewrite history.
‘s chin in a cemetery outside Frankfurt.
The object, measuring just 1.4 inches (3.5 centimetres) in length, was carefully examined using cutting-edge CT scanning technology, which revealed a tiny scroll inside the silver.
Upon digitally unrolling it, researchers found an unusual Latin inscription, offering a rare glimpse into the Christian beliefs of the time. According to the study’s findings, this discovery could drastically alter the historical timeline of Christianity’s spread across Europe.
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In Greece and the Middle East, the evil eye has a history stretching back thousands of years. (Image: Getty)
Tine Rassalle, an independent biblical archaeologist who was not involved in the study, told the website: “This takes our understanding of Western Christianisation and Christian monotheism to a whole new level.”
The amulet was found in the grave of a man who probably died between AD 230 and 270, suggesting that the wearer was a devout Christian at a time when practising the faith openly could be dangerous.