(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
An ancient 1,500-year-old stone tablet chiseled with the inscription of the Ten Commandments was sold at auction in Beverly Hill for $850,000 on November 17, 2016.
The two-foot square marble slab weighs 115 pounds. Twenty lines engraved in early Paleo-Hebrew script called "Samaritan."
While the stone reportedly aged at about 1,500-years-old, it’s not possible to carbon date a rock. It’s a guesstimate to the commandment’s age. Experts stipulate that the formation of the carved letters date the stone in late Roman or Byzantine era between A.D. 300 to 500.
This slab of stone most likely part of a synagogue that was destroyed by one of three parties: Romans between A.D. 400 to 600; or by the Crusaders in the 11th century; or the Byzantines. Historically, the Samaritans oppressed by all three factions. The temple wiped from the face of the earth, but the slab of the Ten Commandments endured.
Ironic, isn’t it.
(Photo: Heritage Auctions)
Stone was buried under rubble for hundreds of years until it was unearthed in 1913 during an excavation to build a train station near Yavneh, a small city in Israel about four miles from the west coast.
Workman who found it did not realize its importance, and either sold the stone or gave it away to a local man. What did he do with it? He placed the Ten Commandments into the threshold of a room that lead to his inner courtyard, with the inscription faced up!
For years, people stepped on the oldest known carved laws of Moses and no one had a clue. Three decades later, the son of the man sold the slab to Y. Kaplan, a municipal archaeologist.
David Michaels, the director of ancient coins for Heritage Auctions, said:
"Some of the letters of the central part of the inscription are blurred -- but still readable under proper lighting -- either from the conditions of its burial or foot traffic while it was resting in the courtyard. Surface is worn, battered and encrusted in places."
Uh, duh, they stomped on the tablet for thirty years, unbelievable!
Here`s the list of the Ten Commandments:
1. I am the Lord your God.
2. You shall have no other gods before me, You shall not make for yourself an idol.
3. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor`s wife or his belongings.
Because this artifact is a "National Treasure" of Israel, auction sale had a restriction (or its own commandment): To be displayed in a museum, library or public place; or may permanently tour around public institutions.
At least it won`t end up as someone`s garden walkway, again.
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About the Author...
Chuck G. is a freelance blogger and celebrity interviewer based in Southern California. She`s a Geek who watches Soccer & Volleyball ❤ Beach Life. You may follow her on Twitter @chuckgwriter.
