The Ark of the Covenant is a gold-covered chest that holds the Ten Commandments, stone tablets with the fundamental principles of Jewish and Christian life. Many believe it disappeared after the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, but some claim to know its whereabouts. Here are 10 possible locations where the Ark might be hidden.
Rosslyn Chapel
Featured in The Da Vinci Code, Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland is rumored to house the Holy Grail and the Ark. Theorists suggest the chapel is a replica of Solomon’s Temple, the Ark’s original home. Is this chapel a mere reminder or a hidden connection to Israel’s past?
Mt. Tsurugi
Located on the Japanese island of Shikoku, Mt. Tsurugi is a spiritual center of Shugendo. Masanori Takane, a Japanese researcher, found similarities between the Bible and Japanese myths, concluding the Ark was on this mountain. Though excavations failed, the Tsurugisan Hozoseki Shrine Ceremony, with its golden shrine carried by men in white robes, echoes Jewish rituals from Solomon’s time.
Temple of Edfu
In Edfu, southern Egypt, the Temple of Horus houses the Ark of Horus. This statue of Horus was placed in the temple’s Holy of Holies, accessible only to the Pharaoh and high priest. Priests transported the statue in an ark with bird-like creatures facing each other. Visitors can still see this ark today.
Antakya
Antakya, a city in southern Turkey near the Syrian border, is believed by Shi’a Islam to be the place where the Mahdi will reveal the Ark. The Mahdi, a Messiah-like figure, will bring forth the Ark from a “place called Antioch” to signal his power. Imagine the Ark emerging from a burger shop in downtown Antakya!
Locations In the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947, include the Copper Scroll, which lists 64 locations of gold, silver, and treasures worth $2 billion. Scholars believe this treasure may come from the treasury of the Temple of Jerusalem and might include the Ark. Time to grab a checklist and shovel!
Chartres Cathedral
Chartres Cathedral in northern France may hold the Ark, according to some theories. A pillar depicts Knights Templar transporting a chest. The Templars allegedly found the Ark while digging under the Temple of Jerusalem in 1118 and have kept it in the cathedral’s crypt ever since.
Southern Africa
The Lemba people, a tribe in Zimbabwe and northern Africa, have Jewish cultural practices, such as refraining from pork and wearing skull caps. They also possess a religious artifact called the ‘ngoma lungundu,’ believed to be a replica of the Ark made 700 years ago. Genetic tests suggest the Lemba’s priestly clan descends from the Kohanim, backing their claim of Jewish ancestry.
Mt. Nebo
Mount Nebo is a strong candidate for the Ark’s location. According to the Book of Maccabees, the prophet Jeremiah, instructed by God, hid the Ark in a cave on this mountain, the same one from which Moses saw the Promised Land. Jeremiah sealed the entrance, saying it would remain hidden until God gathers His people again.
Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
Located in Aksum, Ethiopia, the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion claims to possess the Ark, but with a catch: no one can see it. According to the Kebra Negast, Menelik, son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, stole the Ark with the help of Israelite nobles. It has been guarded at this church for 3000 years by virgin monks who cannot leave until they die. Only the head monk is allowed to see the Ark.
Temple Mount
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem, believed to stand above Solomon’s Temple, is another potential location. Some scholars suggest that the Ark was hidden in a specified room within the Temple before the Babylonian siege. This theory is supported by the absence of the Ark in lists of treasures taken to Babylon or sent back to Jerusalem. Could the Ark be hidden in plain sight?
These are just some of the possible locations of the Ark of the Covenant, a relic that continues to captivate and intrigue. From ancient temples to modern-day churches, the mystery of the Ark’s whereabouts remains unsolved.
What do you think? Leave your comment below with your theories about the Ark of the Covenant’s location!
