AN ANCIENT VERSION OF THE BIBLE

An ancient version of the Bible written in Syriac

An undated handout photo released to Reuters February 6, 2009 shows an ancient manuscript which authorities in northern Cyprus believe is an ancient version of the Bible written in Syriac, a dialect of the native language of Jesus. The manuscript was found in a police raid on suspected antiquity smugglers.Turkish Cypriot police testified in a court hearing they believe the manuscript could be about 2,000 years old. Experts were however divided over the provenance of the manuscript, and whether it was an original, which would render it priceless,or a fake.

To match Reuters Life! CYPRUS-BIBLE/ (Kibris/Handout/Reuters)