Fate may have brought you to these places, unless you're simply an Indiana Jones fan... It doesn't matter what led you here, dear reader, because at the end of this article, you know everything there is to know about the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant...
1 - History of the Ark
According to the Bible, the Ark of the Covenant is the chest that would contain the 10 commandments . Tables of laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Ark of the Covenant is a chest made by the Israelites by order of God. It measures two and a half cubits (about one meter 10) and is made of acacia wood. It is completely covered in solid gold inside and out. It is adorned with a golden crown that goes around the precious box. At either end of the Ark lid, two Cherubim face each other with their wings up and their heads bowed in a gesture of reverence. She has four feet above which are placed four gold rings.
According to legend, the Ark of the Covenant would have protected the Hebrew people during their forty years of wandering in the desert, after their flight from Egypt.
It was lost during the destruction of Solomon's temple by the Babylonians in 587 BC.
2 - What does the Ark of the Covenant symbolize?
For the Jews, the Ark of the Covenant was associated with the presence of God. It is considered the most sacred ritual object of ancient Israel. At first glance, the Ark of the Covenant seems to have disappeared. However, the second book of the Maccabees evokes the fact that the prophet Jeremiah could have concealed the Ark to protect it from enemy attacks during the destruction of Jerusalem. According to the text of an Oracle, the Ark would not be lost, it will reappear when the God of the Hebrews (Yahweh) has gathered his people.
3- What the Treasury contains
The Old Testament reveals to us the contents of the Ark . There would be three elements. These three elements. Three precious elements of Jewish mythology. There are of course the legendary Table of the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai, Manna, a bread that fell from heaven and was given to the Hebrews when they were hungry, and finally Aaron's staff. This last element present in the Ark shows the people the importance of an institution putting them in contact with God. That is, the priesthood. These assembled elements form a legendary treasure of inestimable value !
4 - But where is this treasure?
Many hypotheses exist as to the cache of the Lost Alliance treasure. The idea that circulates the most is that which says that the Ark has long since been found and that it would today be locked up in the cellars of the Vatican . Another hypothesis says that the ark would rest with the rest of the legendary treasure of the Templars , which will be the subject of another article…
Others affirm that the lost treasure would be located in Jerusalem, the Collège de France and the University of Tel-Aviv are carrying out vast excavation campaigns on the historic site of Kiriath-Jearim, which, according to the Bible, would have hosted the Ark for twenty years. Who knows, maybe she's still there?
Finally, another hypothesis assures that the Ark would have been carried away by Menelik, son of Solomon and first king of Ethiopia. The ark would be kept in a small chapel in the city of Aksum, a chapel that is closed to the public. Only the Guardian Priest has access.
Myth or reality ? Legends or historical facts? These are the eternal questions that treasure hunters ask themselves...