Rare Books Dept. in a Dumpster

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 February 2019)



Police in Denizli got a tip about someone bringing 4 rare books
from Syria to sell.  On 10 February, police stopped a car and seized
the books, which the suspects wanted to sell for $200,000 each. 
Suspects E.Y., A.T., E.Ş., and O.Ş. claimed that they found the
books in a dumpster (!) but they were arrested nevertheless.



It has been determined that the books in question are priceless
originals.  Two of them were written on papyrus with gold handwork
and date to 1,000 years ago.  The other two books are from the
period betweeen 1600-1700 A.D.  At least some of the books were
written in Syriac and Aramaic and the subjects include the
astonomical signs that turn the world (signs of the zodiac), the tree
of life, the two-headed eagle and the souls of the departed.  There
is also a depiction of Mary receiving good news and a meeting
with Jesus.



Prof. Dr. Fayriye Bayram of Pamukkale University, confirmed
that the books are of high value, adding that "the handwriting
is written in gold on purple parchment.  These kinds of books
were requested by the palace and senior officials.  The books
may have been brought into Turkey from Syria, where museums
have been ransacked in recent years. Lots of handwritten works
have been showing up in Turkey."