A 1,300-year-old marble bowl uncovered in an ancient Byzantine church in northern Israel is offering new insight into early Christian baptism rituals, researchers said.
The object was found at Susita National Park, the site of the ancient Greek city of Hippos (Greek: Ἵππος), which once stood as a major Christian center east of the Sea of Galilee. Archaeologists from the University of Haifa discovered a cathedral destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 749 CE.
An earthquake preserved the Byzantine church and artifacts
The earthquake caused part of the cathedral to collapse, burying a southern hall that contained a baptismal font and several ritual objects. These items remained sealed under debris for more than a millennium.
Researchers say the room was preserved in near-original condition, with objects found where they fell during the collapse. The cathedral had already been partially excavated in the 1950s, when a larger baptismal hall used for adult immersion was uncovered.
The newly exposed hall is smaller and lacks steps, suggesting it was used for baptizing infants and children. This makes the site unique, as it is the only known Byzantine church in the region with two separate baptismal spaces.
Marble bowl may reveal baptism ritual practices
At the center of the discovery is a rectangular marble object featuring three small bowl-like depressions. The artifact was found next to the baptismal font, indicating it played a role in the ceremony.
A 1,300-year-old marble bowl found in a Byzantine church at Hippos may reveal new details about early Christian baptism rituals near the Sea of Galilee. Researchers say the artifact has no known parallel.#Archaeology #History #Israel #Byzantine #AncientHistory pic.twitter.com/AL4dfpbrVh
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) April 3, 2026
Dr. Michael Eisenberg, who leads the excavation, said the object has no known parallel in archaeological research. He said its shape suggests it was used to hold liquids, most likely different types of oil used during baptism.
Early Christian baptism often included anointing rituals. However, evidence for the use of three separate oils in a single ceremony remains limited. Researchers say this raises new questions about how local traditions developed in Byzantine communities.
Scholars consider alternative interpretations
Some experts suggest a different function for the object. Robin Jensen said similar items have been found in burial contexts and may have served as offering tables.
She noted that if the marble piece were indeed used for anointing oils, it would represent a unique example in early Christian archaeology. Researchers say limited written records from the period make it difficult to confirm how such rituals were performed across regions.
The ancient Greek city of Hippos held religious importance
Hippos was the only fully Christian city along the Sea of Galilee during the Byzantine period. It controlled a wide area, including parts of the southern Golan Heights, a region linked in Christian tradition to the ministry of Jesus.
The cathedral, one of about seven churches in the city, served as both a religious and administrative center. It was likely the seat of a bishop and played a central role in regional worship.
The site also revealed other important artifacts, including a large bronze candlestick and a marble reliquary used to store sacred remains. The reliquary was found empty, suggesting relics may have been removed before the city’s decline.
Findings shed light on early Christian life
The study, led by Eisenberg and Dr. Arleta Koblewska of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, was published in Palestine Exploration Quarterly.
Researchers say the discovery provides a rare look into how baptism ceremonies were organized and practiced in a Byzantine Christian community. It also highlights how local traditions may have shaped religious rituals in ways that were not recorded in written sources.
Experts believe further excavation at Hippos could reveal more details about early Christian worship and daily life in the region.
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