An ancient stone tablet that represents a significant link between faiths that have shaped Western civilization will be auctioned by Sotheby’s on December 18 in New York. The approximately 1,500-year-old artifact is the oldest known inscription of the Decalogue.
Richard Austin, head of Sotheby’s Early Books and Manuscripts Department, described the object as an “important historical artefact” that connects religious traditions. The auction house has not yet released the estimated value of the panel, which weighs approximately 50 kilos and measures 60 centimetres in height.
The tablet was found in 1913 during railway excavations along the southern coast of Israel, near ancient places of worship. For many years, the importance of the discovery remained little recognized; the slab was used as part of the flooring in a local house, with the inscription facing upwards and subject to the daily passage of people. In 1943, an academic identified the artifact as a Samaritan Decalogue. This inscription includes the basic tenets of the Abrahamic religions and is believed to have originally been located in a place of worship or a private residence. The original site may have been destroyed during invasions between the 4th and 6th centuries AD or during the Crusades of the 11th century.
The inscription on the tablet features twenty lines of text that closely follow the biblical verses known to both Christian and Jewish tradition. However, it omits one of the fundamental commandments: “You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.” In its place, there is a new commandment calling for the worship of God on Mount Gerizim, which the Samaritans considered sacred. The panel will be on display at Sotheby’s New York headquarters beginning December 5, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see this important historical artifact.
As the auction approaches, interest in this unique piece of religious history is growing. The sale not only presents a major opportunity for collectors and scholars, but also raises questions about how such artifacts can continue to influence interfaith dialogue in the contemporary world.
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