Wow! This Ancient Coin Showing a Bearded Man is Reportedly the "First and Only" Portrait of Jesus Christ (Photos)

 

A new book claims that this ancient coin depicting a bearded man with a crown of thorns could be the first and only true portrait of  JESUS CHRIST.

 

According to The Sun UK, the tiny bronze coin, dating from the 1st-century AD, has what an author, Ralph Ellis, says is the only lifelike image ever made of Jesus.

 

Until now, the 24mm-wide coin was believed to show the face of King Manu who ruled the Mesopotamian kingdom of Edessa, in what is now southeastern Turkey.

 

But after nearly three decades of research, a leading biblical historian argues that Manu and Christ were one and the same person.

 

Ralph Ellis says his find is “one of the most important discoveries in modern history”.

 

He has studied the lives of the pair and cross-referenced all recorded and anecdotal evidence. And he concludes that the striking similarities between them cannot be a coincidence.

 

Ellis says he is convinced “beyond any reasonable doubt” that the same man was posthumously referred to by two names – ‘King Izas Manu’, and ‘(King) Jesus Emmanuel’.

 

If he is correct, the coin’s image is the one and only accurate portrait of Christ.

 

Although Jesus is the most painted figure in all of western art, there is no physical description of him in the Bible.

 

The familiar image of him with long, flowing hair and white robe is said to be a later invention dating from the 6th-century AD.

 

Elllis’ findings are revealed in his book Jesus, King of Edessa, which is published in the UK this week.

 

 

The author, 59, admits his conclusions are controversial and contradict the conventional story of Christ.

 

He said: “Outside the Gospels there is precious little evidence attesting to the actual existence of the Christ figure.

 

Many modern historians agree that Jesus the Nazarene – also known as ‘Jesus Emmanuel’ – actually existed and was executed by the Romans.

 

The Bible portrays him as a pacifist preacher in the Roman province of Judea, now part of Israel, who was called ‘Christ’ and ‘Messiah’ by followers, which translates as ‘anointed king’.

 

The scriptures say he was crucified by Pilate who feared that rising popular support for Jesus as a ‘King of the Jews’ could lead to the Jewish people revolting.

 

Ellis says his research suggests that Jesus was in fact a warrior king called ‘Izas Manu of Edessa and Adiabene’, also sometimes referred to as ‘Izates’ and ‘Monobazus II’, who also had his sights set on freeing Judea and its people from the Roman Empire.

 

He says his hypothesis explains every facet of the gospel narrative, including elements that have hitherto baffled traditional scholars.

 

Surviving accounts show that King Izas Manu and Jesus Emmanuel were both Nazarene Jews who lived in the City of Jerusalem in the first century.

 

And both were seen by the Romans as a threat because they aided the revolt of the Jewish people during the Great Jewish-Roman war of 66-73AD.

 

Although the historical records of Izas Manu’s death are inconclusive, Ellis believes he was among the three Jewish leaders who were rounded-up and crucified by the Romans, according to the 1st century Jewish historian Josephus Flavius.

 

This version of events has striking parallels with Jesus’ own death when he was led to the cross alongside two others, while wearing a crown of thorns and a purple cloak.