The world's first reference to Christ may have been discovered in a ceramic bowl found off the coast of Egypt.
The "Jesus Cup" was uncovered in 2008 during an excavation of Alexandria's ancient harbour by a team led by Franck Goddio, a French marine archaeologist.
Only missing a handle, the preservation of the bowl, which has an inscription which translates to "Through Christ the chanter" or "Through Christ the magician", stunned researchers.
It is believed the relic dates back to the first century when Alexandria was a hub where paganism, Judaism, and Christianity overlapped.
The world's first reference to Christ may have been discovered in a ceramic bowl found off the coast of Egypt
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If the engraving does reference Jesus Christ - which is debated amongst academics - it may be the oldest material evidence for his existence outside of Christian scripture.
This would then in turn change the historical footprint of Jesus in Egypt, and across the region, as awareness of his life and miracles were known beyond Judea within decades of his life.
The artefact was found by Mr Goddio and his team at an underwater archaeology site which included the now-submerged island of Antirhodos, where Cleopatra's palace is thought to have been located.
Goddio said: "It is very probable that in Alexandria they were aware of the existence of Jesus."
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Franck Goddio led the team which discovered the bowl in 2008
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He believes the inscription on the bowl may have been made in order to legitimise soothsaying rituals, due to the bowl's close resemblance to depictions on early Egyptian statuettes which showed fortune-telling ceremonies.
According to ancient manuals, oil was poured into water by practitioners who they entered ecstatic trances during which they hoped to see mystical figures who could answer questions about the future.
It is thought that by invoking Christ, who was already recognised as a powerful miracle worker, authority may have been given to the ritual.
However, not all academics agree on the translation of the inscription: "DIA CHRSTOU O GOISTAIS."
Bert Smith, a professor of classical archaeology and art at Oxford University, believes the inscription may have been a gift from, or in dedication to, a person called "Chrestos" who was part of a possible religious group known as the Ogoistais.
Others have suggested the word could simply translate to "good" or "kind", or may refer to an anointing salve.
The artefact's discovery in Alexandria adds to the city's role as a centre for religion as well as learning.
Early Christian communities in the city were known for their theological sophistication, meaning it would have made sense for Christ's reputation to have taken hold quickly.