- Graham Hancock's 1992 book "The Sign and the Seal" investigates claims that the Ark of the Covenant – believed to hold the Ten Commandments – may be hidden in Ethiopia. The Ark has long fascinated explorers and scholars alike.
- A blind monk in Axum asserts the Ark is there, supported by the "Kebra Nagast" – an Ethiopian text linking it to Menelik I (son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba). However, historical inconsistencies cast doubt on this origin story.
- Hancock studied Ethiopia's Jewish Falasha community, whose ancient practices resemble early Judaism, suggesting their ancestors may have brought the Ark to Ethiopia independently of Menelik.
- Evidence points to Jewish priests smuggling the Ark from Jerusalem to Egypt's Elephantine Island, then to Ethiopia via Jewish mercenaries – a theory supported by Herodotus' accounts.
- The Ark's existence remains unproven. Ethiopian clergy claim it's guarded in Axum's Chapel of the Tablet, seen only by a single monk, while Hancock dismisses rival theories (e.g., Temple Mount or Mount Nebo).
For centuries, the Ark of the Covenant – the gilded chest said to hold the original Ten Commandments – has captivated explorers, theologians and treasure hunters. Made famous by Hollywood in "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark", the Ark's real-world legend is even more enigmatic.
British journalist Graham Hancock ventured beyond myth in his 1992 book "
The Sign and the Seal," tracing clues that suggest the sacred relic may not be lost at all – but hidden in Ethiopia, guarded by secretive monks.
Hancock’s investigation began in the ancient highlands of Ethiopia, where a blind monk, the self-proclaimed guardian of the Ark, whispered a startling claim: The relic was real, and it rested in the holy city of Axum. But how did it get there? The answer, Hancock discovered, lay in an Ethiopian legend dating back to the 10th century BCE.
According to the "Kebra Nagast," Ethiopia's sacred text, the Queen of Sheba bore a son, Menelik, with King Solomon. Years later, Menelik and his companions allegedly stole the Ark from Jerusalem's Temple and brought it to Ethiopia.
Yet Hancock's research revealed inconsistencies. Axum, the Ark's reputed resting place, didn’t exist in Menelik's time. So where did the relic truly come from?
Digging deeper, Hancock turned to Ethiopia's indigenous Jewish community, the Falashas. Their ancient religious practices – such as animal sacrifice – aligned more closely with early Judaism than with later Talmudic traditions. This suggested their ancestors may have arrived in Ethiopia long before Menelik, possibly carrying the Ark with them.
Hancock's trail then led to Egypt. On the island of Elephantine, a Jewish temple stood in the 7th century BCE, during the reign of the idolatrous King Manasseh.
Could priests have smuggled the Ark from Jerusalem to Elephantine, then onward to Ethiopia? Greek historian Herodotus documented a
migration of Jewish mercenaries from Egypt to Ethiopia, offering a plausible route for the Ark's journey.
But Hancock didn't stop there. He explored claims of the Ark's presence beneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount and on Jordan's Mount Nebo, where treasure hunters like Tom Crotser insisted they had found it.
Hancock dismissed these theories, instead pointing to medieval Templar crosses in Axum's ruins and accounts of red-haired Europeans guarding the relic – hinting that the Knights Templar may have known its true location. Despite mounting circumstantial evidence, the Ark's existence remains unverified.
Ethiopian clergy claim it rests in Axum's Chapel of the Tablet, shielded from public view. Only its guardian, a single monk, is permitted to see it – a tradition upheld for generations. Hancock theorizes that public ceremonies feature replicas to deter thieves and skeptics alike.
The mystery endures. Whether the Ark lies in Ethiopia or remains lost to history, its legend persists, a testament to humanity's fascination with the divine. For now, the truth remains veiled – guarded as closely as the relic itself.
Hancock's quest, detailed in "The Sign and the Seal," challenges believers and skeptics alike to reconsider one of history's greatest enigmas.
As long as the Ark's whereabouts remain uncertain, the search – and the debate – will continue.
Watch this video about Graham Hancock's book "The Sign and the Seal."
This video is from the
BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.
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