Image Gallery: Ancient Texts Go Online

Nash Papyrus

(Image credit: Cambridge University Library)

The "Nash Papyrus," which contains the text of the Ten Commandments.

Book of Deer

(Image credit: Cambridge University Library)

An illumination at beginning of Gospel of John in the "Book of Deer," a pocket Bible generally dated to the first half of the 10th century.

"Cast the first stone…"

(Image credit: Cambridge University Library)

Pictured here is the beginning of the Gospel of John in the "Codex Bezae." This version of John contains the oldest copy of the story of the adulterous woman (John 7.53-8.11) — the biblical episode is where the phrase "let him who is without sin, cast the first stone" comes from.

A centuries-old benedictional

(Image credit: Cambridge University Library)

This is the 16th century benedictional of Robert de Clercq with an illumination by Simon Bening (1483-1561), one of the foremost Flemish miniaturists of his time.

Life of Edward the Confessor

(Image credit: Cambridge University Library)

An illumination from the "Life of Edward the Confessor" showing the battle of Hastings.

Kalpasūtra by Bhadrabāhu

(Image credit: Cambridge University Library)

A 15th or 16th century manuscript of an important Jain text.

Quran fragment

(Image credit: Cambridge University Library)

Fragment of an Abbasid Quran, showing geometric ornamentation. Probably written in the ninth century.

Live Science Staff
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