When not leading the Israelites as the symbolic presence of Yahweh, it was kept in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of Moses. It was connected to miracles and oracles during Israel’s early centuries, and was finally installed in the luxurious temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem. Centuries later it was caught up in the mayhem and destruction of the Babylonian Invasion between 597 and 586 BC, and it was at this point during which the Ark slipped right through the cracks of history. It has been lost ever since, sparking mystery, wonder, and fascination.
Finding the ark would be one of the greatest discoveries in archaeology, but first we need to properly understand it. Why was it made of wood overlaid with solid gold? Why did it have two golden statues of “cherubim” – odd creatures with wings? Why was it carried on two poles? We know Moses saw it first in a holy vision from God, but
Photograph by DUBY TAL/ALBATROSS/ALAMY/ACI
These letters are often expressed in language of extreme abasement. The puppet ruler of Gezer, in present-day Israel, wrote: “To the king, my lord, my god, my Sun, the Sun of heaven: Message of Yapahu, your servant, the dirt at your feet. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, my god, my Sun, seven times and seven times.”
Betrothals and brides
In contrast, the letters written by the pharaoh’s equals, rulers of the great regional powers, are careful how and when they demonstrate that they are on more equal footing. Scholars sometimes refer to the main regional powers of this time as the “Great Powers Club,” which at this time consisted of Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, Mitanni (centered in modern southeastern Turkey), and “Hatti,” the Hittite empire. Another member of the club was Alashiya, the island of Cyprus. While geographically small, the island nation was economically powerful thanks to its copper reserves. (