Carrying the Ark of the Covenant: gilded bas-relief at the Auch Cathedral.
Last month we showcased the (what if) 3D reconstruction of the Solomon’s Temple
in accordance to its Biblical measurements. Now beyond its religious
status as the grand First Jewish Temple built on the Temple Mount,
Solomon’s Temple is also known for its housing of the fabled Ark of the
Covenant. This naturally brings us the million-dollar question – what
exactly was the Ark of the Covenant? Well as literary sources mention,
the legendary artifact was possibly a gold-plated chest that stored the
sacred tablets containing the original Ten Commandments. But as every
Indiana Jones fan worth his salt would know, the Ark is elusive (or
perhaps even ‘illusory’) – and as such is still lost to the researchers
of our modern age. But an ancient Hebrew text translated in 2013, might
provide some (possibly fancy) insights into the whereabouts and status
of this puzzling artifact, along with the other treasures of King
Solomon – who was said to be the richest man of his time in Biblical
sources.
