Christ it’s Magic
The engraving reads, "DIA CHRSTOU O GOISTAIS," which has been interpreted to mean either, "by Christ the magician" or, "the magician by Christ."
Of course this may not be so – Chrstou could have been anyone. If it does refer to Christ of the New Testament it will be one of the oldest references, dated from the first or second century. What we do know is we have some very old pottery with writing on it.
“It could very well be a reference to Jesus Christ, in that he was once the primary exponent of white magic,” Goddio, co-founder of the Oxford Center of Maritime Archaeology, said.
He and his colleagues found the object during an excavation of the underwater ruins of Alexandria’s ancient great harbor. The Egyptian site also includes the now submerged island of Antirhodos, where Cleopatra’s palace may have been located. [Discovery]
As to the exact significance of the writing (paganism and christianity being early bed fellows), it does give a good excuse to show Rowan Atkinson on the magical Jesus:
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