Recently, a version of the Hebrew Bible over a thousand years old was purchased for US$ 38 million (equivalent to about R$ 190 million in today's market) at an auction held in New York.
The ancient holy book, known as the Codex Sassoon, has become one of the most expensive manuscripts ever sold in the world.
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Who won the item was the former US ambassador Alfred H. Moses, who represented the United States in Romania.
Alfred said he bought the relic on behalf of the American Friends of the Jewish People's Museum organization.
The manuscript will even be donated to the museum itself, which is based in Tel Aviv.
Manuscript can be considered as one of the oldest versions of the Bible
In practice, Codex Sassoon is a compilation of Hebrew Bible texts.
Altogether there are 24 books and the book is in good condition, with only 8 original pages missing.
For historians, the book is invaluable, especially for those studying anthropology and history.
According to experts, the Codex may date back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Before going up for auction, the relic was displayed at the ANU Museum.
Value reflects power of religion
Although it is considered a priceless object, the value of the Codex Sassoon has surprised many people.
$38 million worth of a rare manuscript sounds like a lot of money, but it's worth remembering that an original version of the US Constitution fetched a staggering $43 million at auction in 2021.
Another priceless historical book, Leonardo Da Vinci's Codex Leicester, sold for $31 million in 1994. The buyer was tycoon Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft.
The numbers reached by the ancient Hebrew bible highlight the importance of the holy book of Christians and Jews, and of religion itself for humanity. Religious objects can always fetch huge fortunes for collectors and devotees alike.