For centuries, millions of people have seen the four letters INRI above the cross of Jesus in churches, on images, and on crucifixes. It is so ubiquitous that many recognize it, but few know what it actually means and why it was placed there.

Far from being a mysterious or esoteric symbol, INRI has a very specific historical origin that connects politics, power, and faith.

The Origin of the Inscription

When Jesus was crucified, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate ordered a sign to be placed above the cross. In the Roman world, this sign was called a titulus and served to publicly indicate the crime for which a person was being executed.

It was not an ornament or a spiritual phrase. It was an accusation.