In a remarkable auction on Wednesday, Sotheby's in New York sold the oldest known stone tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments for over $5 million, far exceeding its estimated value of $1-2 million. This 1,500-year-old marble slab, discovered in Israel in 1913, was initially overlooked for decades, serving as a paving stone at a local home before its historical significance was recognized.
The tablet, weighing 155 pounds, features Paleo-Hebrew script and includes twenty lines of text closely following biblical verses familiar to both Christian and Jewish traditions. However, it presents a unique twist—omitting the commandment 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain' while adding a directive to worship on Mount Gerizim, a site sacred to Samaritans.
Richard Austin of Sotheby's remarked on the tablet's importance, stating, 'This is not just a significant historical artifact; it is a tangible link to the beliefs that shaped Western civilization.' The tablet is believed to have originated from a synagogue, likely destroyed during Roman invasions or the Crusades.
After being sold multiple times, it was acquired by American collector Dr. Mitchell Stuart Cappell in 2016 for $850,000 and was recently auctioned off. Despite its high price, some experts have raised concerns about its authenticity, reflecting the ongoing debate surrounding ancient artifacts.