Dec 9, 2024, 12:00 AM
Dec 9, 2024, 12:00 AM

Sotheby's sells oldest Ten Commandments carving—history at stake!

Highlights
  • The tablet, discovered in 1913 in Israel, is inscribed with nine commandments and omits one traditionally found in the Book of Exodus.
  • It served unnoticed as a paving stone for decades until its significance was recognized and it was purchased in 1943.
  • Sotheby's plans to auction the tablet on December 18, 2024, emphasizing its historical and cultural importance.
Story

In December 2024, Sotheby's, a notable auction house, announced that it would be auctioning a significant historical artifact, a marble tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments. This tablet, believed to be the oldest-known carving of the Ten Commandments, dates back approximately 1,500 years and was unearthed in 1913 during railway construction in Israel. The site of the excavation was historically rich, located near various early religious structures, including synagogues, mosques, and churches, indicating the region's long-standing cultural heritage. The marble tablet, which stands two feet high and weighs 115 pounds, is unique in that it is the only complete tablet of the Ten Commandments to have survived from the late Roman-Byzantine era. Scholars have highlighted its importance as it contains nine commandments, differing from the traditional list found in the Book of Exodus, notably omitting "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain" and instead directing worshipers to Mount Gerizim, the holy site significant to Samaritans. This further emphasizes the cultural and religious nuances associated with the artifact. For many years after its discovery, the tablet was overlooked and repurposed as a paving stone for the entryway of a home in Israel, rendering it a mundane part of daily life rather than a revered historical artifact. It wasn't until a scholar identified its significance in 1943 that it was purchased and began to receive the attention it warranted. This turn of events showcases the tablet's journey from obscurity to recognition, marking it as an extraordinary piece of cultural heritage. Sotheby's has positioned this auction as a unique opportunity for collectors and historians alike, with the tablet valued between $1 million and $2 million. The auction, scheduled for December 18, 2024, aims not only to sell the artifact but to promote its historical and cultural significance, urging individuals to connect with this artifact that has endured through time and to reflect on the teachings of one of humanity's earliest moral codes. The emphasis on the tablet as a bridge between faiths, regions, and eras invites a broader conversation about the shared heritage that shapes society today.

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