The nomina sacra are one of the earliest pieces of evidence for a Christian visual and material culture.  These abbreviations remind us that Christians communicated their theology not merely by the words on the page, but by visual symbols. The nomina sacra are essentially the earliest Christian art.

“One of the Most Remarkable Features of Early Christian Manuscripts” by Michael J. Kruger (https://michaeljkruger.com/one-of-the-most-remarkable-features-of-early-christian-manuscripts/)