To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Nail That 'Could Have Been Used In Jesus' Crucifixion' Found In Hidden Chamber

Nail That 'Could Have Been Used In Jesus' Crucifixion' Found In Hidden Chamber

It was found in a box adorned with a gold cross

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Christian relics, including a nail that is claimed to have been used in Jesus Christ's crucifixion, have been discovered in a secret chamber at a monastery.

Archaeologists who are currently working in the Milevsko monastery in the Czech Republic has unearthed a six-inch-long nail that was placed inside a box which has 21-karat gold cross on the front and is said to date back to between 260 and 416 AD.

The box has an inscription which translates to 'Jesus is King'.

Alamy Live News

Experts say they are unable to confirm if the nail was used for the crucifixion, but have said its discovery is 'even greater than the reliquary of St. Maurus'.

Those not in the know about Christian relic discoveries, the Maurus Reliquary is a gold box that contains fragments on the bodies of Saint maurus, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Timothy - so it's a big deal.

Speaking to Czech News Agency (ČTK), Jiří Šindelář, who took part in the discovery, said: "Because the Hussites destroyed the archive, there was no information that such a thing was here."

But experts told ČTK it's 'realistic' that a nail from Jesus' crucifixion could have ended up at the Milev Monastery, which was 'one of the richest institutions in Czech Republic'.

Alamy Live News

Šindelář said the authenticity of the nail will be verified by other experts in the future.

The team who uncovered the secret room say it had been used to hide a number of rare artifacts from raids by the Hussites in the 15th century.

Alamy Live News

This isn't the first time claims have been made about nails coming from what is known as the True Cross and earlier this year one archaeologist even claimed to have found the childhood home of Jesus Christ at a site in Nazareth.

Professor Ken Dark says there is a 'strong case to be made' for the 1st century dwelling sitting underneath a modern convent in the Israeli city being the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Dark, a professor from the University of Reading, said the case for it being Christ's childhood home was first made back in the 1800s, but then dismissed by other archaeologists in the 1930s.

But now after spending 14 years studying the site reckons it's legit.

Dark told BBC News: "I didn't go to Nazareth to find the house of Jesus, I was actually doing a study of the city's history as a Byzantine Christian pilgrimage centre.

"Nobody could have been more surprised than me."

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Interesting