The exact location of the Ark of the Covenant remains one of history's enduring mysteries, with no definitive proof of its current whereabouts.

Historical Context and Biblical Account

The Ark was a sacred gold-covered wooden chest built by the Israelites under Moses' direction near Mount Sinai to hold the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. It was carried by the Levites and eventually placed in the Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. The Ark disappeared after the Babylonians destroyed the Temple in 586 BCE

Leading Theories on Its Whereabouts

• Ethiopia (Aksum) : One of the most famous claims is that the Ark was taken to Ethiopia before the Babylonian conquest and is now kept in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum. According to Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, it remains there under strict guard, though access is highly restricted

• Mount Nebo (Jordan) : Some traditions, including the Old Testament book 2 Maccabees, suggest the Ark was hidden in a cave on Mount Nebo, the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land, to protect it before Jerusalem’s fall. This location is said to remain secret until the end of time

• Israel (Temple Mount, Shiloh, Jericho) : The Ark was historically housed in places like Shiloh and Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Some speculate it might be hidden in a secret vault beneath the Temple Mount or other ancient sites in Israel, but no archaeological evidence has been found due to religious and political restrictions on excavations

• Other Speculations : Various less substantiated theories propose locations such as Qumran, Rome, Ireland, Zimbabwe, or Mount Gerizim, but these lack credible evidence and are often considered speculative or legendary

Summary

No conclusive archaeological or historical evidence confirms the Ark’s current location. The most widely accepted traditions place it either in Ethiopia’s Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion or hidden in a secret location such as Mount Nebo or beneath the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

. The mystery endures, making the Ark of the Covenant one of the most fascinating and elusive relics of antiquity.