"In the Beginning: Bibles Before the Year 1000" Sackler Art Gallery Smithsonian Institution 1050 Independence Ave, S.W. Open through Jan. 7, 2007 Free
Beneath the streets that lead to the Washington Monument lie what are believed to be some of the most sacred documents in history. There, in the lower level of the Sackler Art Gallery, an exhibit titled "In the Beginning: Bibles Before the Year 1000" has opened.
The first of its kind, this exhibit houses many of the most important biblical scriptures or codices in the world. In dim lighting to preserve the aging transcripts, four or five rooms hold hundreds of biblical texts from the second to 10th centuries.
These bibles, mostly worn with time's fierce touch, lay wide open, inviting the visitor to read their words. Quickly it becomes clear they are unreadable; their texts are carefully written in ancient Greek, Georgian, Hebrew, Arabic and Latin. Unless fluent in these sacred languages, one can only admire the dexterously written letters of the pages. It is not difficult to observe the varying geographical origins of the Bible and its myriads of translations in diverse languages.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the exhibit lies in the visual presentation of texts, which range from the early scripture printed gently on papyrus to extravagantly engraved gold texts with graphic illustrations portrayed in rare vibrant ink. Unfortunately, the texts are encased in clear glass cabinets that border the black walls of this exhibit to protect them. That physical separation creates a distance between the visitors of the museum and the Bibles that brought them there. They feel far away just by being inside the cases.
Inside this tiny space lies the Codex Sinaiticus, the first bible that included the Old and New Testament; the first Armenian Gospels; and the works of the Irishman Macregol, who was among the first to both illustrate and write the Bible. Those are only a few of the hundreds of precious books in this small area that once gave people a reason to exist; now their existence is ignored.
The exhibit begs several questions upon viewing. Is it simply too religious for a modern America? Has this political city become too interested in making history out of today instead of seeing the history of yesterday? What happened to faith? Consumed by the daily rut of life, taken captive by in-your-face advertisements and society's view of what is beautiful or succeeding financially, has no time been left to examine one's own belief system?
These scriptures, which once served as a timeless spiritual gateway for Christians and Jews alike, will remain below ground in the Sackler Gallery for now. On a wall in the center of the exhibit the words of Evangelist Cassiodorus state, "The scribe preaches with the pen and unleashes tongues with fingers and each word written is a wound to Satan's body."
Such a statement once gave power to each letter, detail and picture contained within the scriptures. Unfortunately they have now become nothing more than an illusion of the past in our present day.
