Probing Question: Is the Ark of the Covenant real?It seems plausible enough that some such object was in the first Temple. Similar cherub throne iconography survives from Phoenician contexts (e.g., here; actual miniature cherub thrones, presumably meant to seat an image of the god, survive as well).
September 24th, 2009 By Solmaz Barazesh
When you hear the words "Ark of the Covenant" what comes to mind? For some, Steven Spielberg’s film "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" provides the most vivid pop-culture reference to this mysterious sacred object.
The quest to find the real Ark has inspired generations of adventurers and Hollywood directors, but the trail has always gone cold.
"Different people will give you different answers to that question," said Baruch Halpern, Penn State professor of ancient history, classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, and religious studies. "The Ark is a regular feature in the Old Testament, making several appearances in the first five books of the Bible. There are many consistent references to the Ark, and when you add it all up, it seems like the Ark was a real article."
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Halpern does a good job of gently tamping down the more wild speculations on the Ark. His conclusion is good:
In some ways, the story of the Ark is similar to other Judeo-Christian religious relics such as the Shroud of Turin and Noah’s Ark, Halpern said. "You have to remember why this scripture was written in the first place, and see the Ark’s symbolic power to people as a sacred object. If you try to over-explain it, you lose the power of the story."For the Ark of the Covenant, see here. There's more on Professor Halpern here and here.
UPDATE (29 September): Dead link fixed. Sorry!