Steven Spielberg's “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) is about the search for the Ark of the Covenant. The special-effects approximation of its enormous powers reveal why many people are curious about it. Some even gone to great lengths to find it.
Various research papers hint on its probable locations. All of them are found in Africa and the Middle East, but it's in Ethiopia that a number of experts think that the long-lost ark might be hidden. How did it end there?
No custom research papers could provide concrete details. In fact, a few papers doubt the claims of the virgin monks who are guarding it. They don't care about the skeptical minds, as their facial expressions would tell that it's a fact that the ark has been with them for many centuries.
"They shall make an ark made of acacia wood" - this is what God commanded Moses in the Book of Exodus, after delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. And so the Israelites built an ark, or chest, gliding it inside and out. This is where Moses put the stone tablets where the Ten Commandments are inscribed and which was given to him on Mount Sinai.
The First Book of Kings tells about King Solomon building the First Temple in Jerusalem to house the ark, and how it was venerated during his long reign. Then it vanished. There are no research papers that can tell what happened to the ark between that time and during the year it ended up in the hands of the Ethiopian Christians.
What some present Ethiopians can tell is Haile Selasie, the last emperor of Ethiopia, claimed to be descended from Menelik, the ruler believed to be responsible for Ethiopia's possession of the ark in tenth century B.C.
According to Kebra Negast (Glory of the Kings), Ethiopia's chronicle of its royal line, Menelik is the son of King Solomon and Queen Sheba. She traveled to Jerusalem to partake of the king's wisdom, and on her way home, she bore Menelik. When the son was all grown up, he paid a visit to his father. He brought along the firstborn sons of some Israeli nobles on his return journey, who stole the ark and carried it with them to Ethiopia. Menelik had no idea about the theft, and when he did, he reasoned that since the ark's frightful powers hadn't destroyed his followers, it must be God's will that it remain with him.
No research paper can verify if what is said in Kebra Negast is true, but those who visit the northern city of Axum can't help but stare at the Church of our Lady Mary of Zion. Within those four walls is the original Ark of the Covenant. Only the monks have seen it, and they're not telling. Faith is the only way to believe its existence.
PROFILE:
Carlos Gabino Robles is a History professor. He wrote numerous research papers on mythical objects. He loves to watch movies that is adventurous, mystical and historical at the same time.
