The Ark of the Covenant was a chest described in the Bible as containing the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. According to the Bible, the Ark had immense significance to the Israelites. However, its whereabouts and fate have been lost to history. There are a few theories about what happened to it:
- It was destroyed when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem in 587 BCE. Some believe the Ark was taken from the Temple during this attack and destroyed or melted down.
- It is hidden somewhere in an underground chamber beneath where the Temple stood. When the Babylonians attacked, some believe the Ark was hidden away in a secret cave or tunnel, the location of which has been lost. Numerous excavations near Temple Mount have searched but not found proof of this theory.
- It's in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Orthodox church claims the Ark was moved to Ethiopia in the 10th century BCE for safekeeping, first to the island of Tana Kirkos on Lake Tana, then eventually to the St. Mary of Zion cathedral in Aksum where it allegedly resides today. Only one guardian is allowed to see it at a time. Many discount this theory as it has not been substantiated.
- It no longer exists. Some scholars believe the Ark was most likely destroyed long ago given the number of invasions and regime changes Jerusalem underwent. Records of the Ark disappear after the Babylonian invasion leading to the belief it was gone by 586 BCE.
In the end, given the lack of archeological or definitive historical evidence, what became of the Ark remains one of history's enduring mysteries. Its absence continues to fascinate both religious scholars and popular culture.
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