Tellout Evangelism Resources and HiVu Antique Photos Galleries

Herculaneum House

The house at Herculaneum, though splendid in design and decor, had fallen on hard times. (See Herculaneum mosaic at right) The first floor of the building had been turned into two flats, and let. In a room which could have belonged to either flat a most interesting find has been made. The room appears to have been a small chapel. A patch of white plaster had been let into the wall at some time subsequent to the construction of the room. Plainly marked in the center of this plaster is a sizeable cross.

Christian Cross

It is not absolutely certain that this affords proof of Christian ownership. Some experts doubt whether the cross became a Christian symbol so early, but the recent discoveries of the cross, the fish, the star and the plough, all well known from the second century, on ossuaries of the Judeo-Christian community in Judea put the possibility beyond reasonable doubt. Moreover, a wooden cross was found in another house in Herculaneum, and there are one or two probable examples at Pompeii, notably that from the House of Pansa, so there is no good reason why this mark in the wall at Herculaneum should not be a Christian emblem.¹

¹"Evangelism in the Early Church" by Dr Michael Green.

"The house at Herculaneum is splendid in design and decor."

^Top Page