The most ancient books in the world that have survived to this day (10 photos)
Ancient books and manuscripts are a valuable source of knowledge and an incredibly important cultural heritage of civilizations. They are key sources for the study of history, philosophy, religion and science. Alas, there are very few such ancient artifacts left. Let's look at the oldest books in the world that have survived to this day.
Vatican Codex 
Date: 4th century.
The Vatican Codex is a unique manuscript of the Greek Bible, which contains incomplete texts of the Old and New Testaments. The book has been kept in the Vatican since the 15th century in the Apostolic Library.
Ethiopian Bible or Garima Gospels 
Date: 10th-11th century.
One of the oldest Ethiopian illustrated manuscripts, which was written on goatskin. The book is kept in the monastery of St. Garima in the city of Adua.
Golden Book of Orphism 
Date: 500-600 BC.
This unusual book consists of 6 bound gold sheets with a total weight of 100 grams. The text on the tablets is written in Etruscan and is associated with Orphism. The relic was discovered completely by accident while digging a canal on the Struma River in Bulgaria.
Cuthbert's Gospel 
Date: 7th century.
The oldest surviving book in Europe, which was found in the tomb of St. Cuthbert (an Anglo-Saxon hermit monk). The manuscript consists of 94 sheets and does not contain complex fonts or drawings. Of particular interest is the original wooden binding, covered in red leather, which remains almost in its original form, despite its age.
Book of Kells 
Date: 800 AD.
A handwritten book created by Celtic monks. It is not only a source of wisdom, but also an example of true medieval Irish art.
Tablets from Pyrgi 
Date: late 6th century.
The three gold plates have holes along the edges, indicating that they were probably joined together at one point. The uniqueness of the tablets lies in the fact that they are bilingual. Two of them are written in Etruscan, and one in Phoenician. They recount the dedication of King Fefari Velianas to the Phoenician goddess Astarte, also known as Ishtar.
Siddur, Jewish prayer book 
Date: 800 AD.
The prayer book, about 10 centimeters high and 7 centimeters wide, is written in Hebrew, contains about 50 pages and is still in its original binding. It consists of three main parts.
Epic of Gilgamesh 
Date: 7th century BC.
A unique poem written in cuneiform on twelve stone tablets. Includes more than three thousand verses dedicated to the demigod Gilgamesh and Enkidu, the protagonist’s friend. It is the greatest work of the Ancient East.
Egyptian Book of the Dead 
Date: VI to I century BC.
The book is a collection of magical formulas, spells, rituals, as well as detailed instructions that were required to help the deceased after the transition from life to the afterlife.
Diamond Sutra 
Date: 3rd century BC.
A sacred Buddhist text believed to be one of the oldest surviving printed books. The sutra was discovered in a walled cave in China.
