The Sotheby’s auction in New York saw the sale of the thousand-year-old Sasanian Codex, a manuscript written in the Armenian language that dates back to the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th century. This book is considered one of the oldest in the world and was sold for a staggering $38 million.
The Sasanian Codex comprises 24 books divided into Torah, Neviim, and Ketuvim. This codex contains dozens of miniatures that are meticulously executed in the traditional Armenian style.
Throughout its long history, this Bible has changed hands many times. In the 13th century, the manuscript was stolen by the Turks and then sold to the Crusaders. Later, the book returned to the hands of the Armenian community and was owned by one of the monasteries in Jerusalem until the beginning of the 20th century.
The Sasanian codex was sold at Sotheby’s auction after prolonged negotiations and open bidding. The manuscript will now become part of a private collection and will not be available for public viewing anytime soon. However, experts are currently working on digital copies of the book to provide access to the contents of the codex to the world.
По материалам lenta.ru.