Historians say a 1,500-year-old marble tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments could fetch millions at auction.
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ST. PAUL, MN
– Sotheby’s will be offering a rare and historically significant item for auction this December — the oldest known inscribed tablet of the Ten Commandments. The marble tablet, weighing 115 pounds and standing two feet tall, dates back around 1,500 years. Expected to sell for between $1 million and $2 million, it will be featured in a single-lot sale on December 18.
A Historical Artifact From the Late Roman-Byzantine Era
This ancient tablet, inscribed in Paleo-Hebrew script, was created during the Late Roman-Byzantine period (circa 300–800 CE). It was discovered in 1913 during railway excavations along the southern coast of Israel.
For many years, the tablet’s importance went unrecognized, and it was only after its sale to a scholar in 1943 that its historical value was realized. The tablet was then used as a paving stone at the entrance of a local home, with the inscription exposed to foot traffic for decades.
Due to the strict laws governing the exportation of antiquities, especially from Israel, objects like this tablet rarely appear at auction. Israel’s antiquities law, passed in 1978, regulates the movement of significant cultural items, ensuring they remain within the country unless all necessary legal steps are followed.
The consignor of this tablet has provided the appropriate export licenses and documentation of provenance, ensuring that the artifact’s sale complies with international regulations.
Growing Interest in Judaica Artifacts
Sotheby’s has a history of selling high-profile Judaica items, with past sales including the Codex Sassoon, the world’s oldest nearly complete Hebrew Bible, which fetched $38.1 million. This has helped fuel a growing interest in Judaica among both private and institutional buyers.
Major museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Houston, have expanded their collections of Jewish ritual art, with a particular focus on acquiring masterpieces. The Ten Commandments tablet, with its unique historical significance, is expected to attract attention from top collectors and institutions worldwide.
Global Demand for Historic Artifacts
The market for important Judaic artifacts has grown increasingly global, with collectors and institutions from the US, Europe, Israel, and East Asia eager to acquire pieces of immense historical and cultural value.
The upcoming auction is expected to see intense interest, as this tablet represents a key moment in religious and cultural history. It is seen not only as a connection to the past but also as a symbol that bridges different cultures and faiths.
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