2nd-century Greek satire documenting Christian devotion to their crucified sophist and mutual fraternal charity
T2Independent Ancient Historians78%
c. 165–170 AD
Discovery Excavation:Samosata / Syria and Athens, Greece
Current Museum / Accession:Classical Manuscript Tradition
A satirical dialogue by Greek satirist Lucian of Samosata describing the cynical philosopher Peregrinus Proteus, who temporarily joined the Christian sect and rose to prominence by exploiting their radical communal generosity.
Archival Museum & Excavation Photography
Israel Museum / Civico Museo Archeologico di Milano / Wikimedia Commons
Limestone block discovered in Caesarea Maritima bearing a Latin dedicatory inscription naming 'Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea', confirming his historical governorship.
Corroboration Distribution for Connected Passages (54 records)
87% Confidence
54 sources
46.3%
31.48%
12.96%
Direct Archaeology25(46.3%)
Ancient Historians17(31.48%)
Dead Sea Scrolls & Manuscripts7(12.96%)
Scholarly Consensus1(1.85%)
Debated & Traditional4(7.41%)
Claim-by-Claim Epistemic Verification Breakdown
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
1
Literal Translation / Primary Inscription
Epigraphic Record
Sections 11–13 state: 'The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account... It was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on trust, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them as common property.'
2
Biblical Corroboration & Cross-References
Scriptural Harmony
Corroborates the central Christian confession: worship of Jesus as a crucified teacher, universal brotherhood, rejection of pagan polytheism, radical communal sharing of goods (`ACT.2:44–45`), and fearlessness toward death.
