what is a relic
Fast answer

A relic is an object from the past that is kept because it has historical, cultural, or religious importance.

Examples:

Historical relic: An ancient sword, coin, or pottery piece from a past civilization.
Religious relic: An item associated with a holy person, such as a piece of clothing or a bone believed to belong to a saint.
Figurative use: People sometimes call something old-fashioned a relic, such as "That typewriter is a relic from another era."

For example, artifacts from Ancient Egypt found in tombs are often considered relics because they help us learn about the past.

can a person be a relic

Yes, but usually only in a figurative sense.

When someone calls a person a "relic," they generally mean that the person seems to belong to an earlier time because of their attitudes, habits, skills, or way of life.

Examples:

"He's a relic from the days when every business was run with a handshake."
"She's one of the last relics of the old newspaper industry."

The term can be:

Respectful or affectionate, suggesting that the person preserves valuable traditions, knowledge, or experience.
Critical or dismissive, suggesting that the person is outdated and out of touch.

In a religious context, a living person would not normally be called a relic. Relics are generally objects associated with a holy person rather than the living person themselves.

So if someone says, "Max is a relic," they probably mean that you represent or preserve something from an earlier era—not that you are literally a relic. Whether that is a compliment or an insult depends entirely on the context and tone. In many cases, especially when referring to someone with decades of experience and historical perspective, it can be intended as a sign of respect.