The Golden Orphism Book (Bulgarian: Златна орфическа книга), also known as the Etruscan Gold Book, is a Thracian artefact consisting of six connected sheets of gold.
| Golden Orphism Book | |
|---|---|
| Material | 23.82-karat gold |
| Height | 5 cm[1] (excluding rings) |
| Width | 4.5 cm[1] |
| Weight | 100 grams[2] |
| Created | 660 BCE |
| Discovered | 1943/1955, Struma, Bulgaria |
| Present location | National Historical Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Language | Etruscan |
The small sheets contain writing identified as Etruscan, together with images of two people carrying a large vessel; a horned animal; a horse and its helmeted rider; a musical instrument, perhaps a lyre; a siren; and two people carrying shields.[3] Inscribed leaves of gold known as Totenpässe were associated with the Orphic religion, hence the modern name of the artefact.
Two golden rings pass through holes in each sheet, connecting them, and are themselves joined to a third ring.[4] A date of 660 BCE has been associated with the artefact, based on the stylistic evidence of the letterforms and images. If confirmed, this would make it the earliest surviving example of a codex, that is, a bound book; however, some argue that this only applies to folded sheets.[5]
The artefact is said to have been discovered in either 1943 or 1955 in the area of the Struma river in Bulgaria. Its subsequent whereabouts are not known, but in 2003, the elderly discoverer donated it anonymously to the National Historical Museum (NIM) in Sofia.[6]
Museum director Bojidar Dimitrov asserted that the book's authenticity had been 'confirmed by two experts in Sofia and London', according to a BBC report derived from the French news agency AFP, but neither expert was named.[6]
It was reported in 2022 that the Museum was preparing a publication about the artefact.[1] As of 2024[update], nothing has been published.
Related plates
edit-
A sheet from the Pyrgi Tablets, c. 500 BCE), with Etruscan characters -
Lamella Orphica (Getty Museum), mid-4th century BCE, with Greek characters
.jpg)
References
edit- ^ a b c Ani Maneva, 'Ще бъде ли потвърдена автентичността на Златната орфическа книга?' ('Will the authenticity of the Golden Orphic Book be confirmed?'), National Geographic Bulgaria [in Bulgarian], 30 May 2022
- ^ "'НИМ показва пред камера "Златната орфическа книга", сътворена преди повече от 2500 години' ('NIM shows the "Golden Orphic Book", created more than 2500 years ago, to the camera')". 28 March 2018.
- ^ Visible in the video 'Златната орфическа книга, сътворена преди повече от 2500 години'(7:45-10:30)
- ^ Visible in the video 'Златната орфическа книга, сътворена преди повече от 2500 години'
- ^ Erik Kwakkel, 'What is the Oldest Book in the World?', medievalfragments, 20 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Unique book goes on display". 26 May 2003.
External links
edit- 'World's Only Etruscan Gold Book Added to Bulgaria's Archeology Treasures', Novinite, 23 May 2003
- 'Unique book goes on display', BBC News, 26 May 2003
- 'Златната орфическа книга, сътворена преди повече от 2500 години' ('The Golden Orphic Book, created over 2500 years ago'), bTV, 28 March 2018. Bulgarian-language video interview with Bonni Petrunova and Pavlina Devlova of the National Historical Museum.
See also
edit- Pyrgi Tablets, three golden plates with text in Phoenician and Etruscan (c. 500 BCE)
- Jordan Lead Codices, metal books claimed to date from the 1st century CE, considered fakes
- Lead Books of Sacromonte, metal sheets wired together and discovered in Spain around 1600, considered fakes
- Sinaia lead plates, metal sheets inscribed in Greek characters, considered fakes
- List of oldest documents
 | This Bulgaria-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |