Sign and the Seal: The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant

by Graham Hancock

Book Overview

The fact of the Lost Ark of the Covenant is one of the grant historical mysteries of all time. To believers, the Ark is the legendary vesel holding the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Bible contains hundreds of references to the Ark's power to level mountains, destroy armies, and lay waste to cities. The Ark itself, however, mysteriously disappears from recorded history sometime after the building of the Temple of Solomon.
After ten...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671865412
• ISBN13: 9780671865412
• Release Date: July 1993
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 608 Pages
• Weight: 1.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 5.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Entertaining and insightful all the way

Great read!

Historical facts and fictions.

The Sign and the Seal by Graham Hancock is one of the best researched books on the contradictions of traditional, accepted histories and logical interpretations of finds and texts of the past. Of special interest to me is "The Finger of God", which the Egyptian priests tell Pharaoh, Moses has. The tantalizing thought that this thing could be knocking around somewhere in Ethiopia with the Ark is enough to make me want to go hunting legends. Our history may be a very different story than the one that was taught to us in church and school. After reading the book I was left with this thought: Modern man is approximately one million years old. So starting from scratch man could have developed highly technological civilizations like our own, one hundred times between ice ages and volcano cycles. If he did some of his tools, like the "finger of God", could still exist. If you have problems with accepting the traditional theories of the past because so much of it is based on faith and miracles, while seeming to ignore the available facts, or if you are just interested in alternative histories, this is the book for you.

great religion/history book

While it does not definitvely answer the wuestion of the fate of the Ark of the Covenant, this book presents a thorough and intersting look into the history, culture and religion of Ethiopia - both Christian and Jewish. Ethuiopia is a fascinating country whether they have the Ark or not!

educational and entertaining

Cover to cover it is an engaging read. It doesn't matter if you don't agree with some of his conclusions and intrepretations it is still an educational and entertaining read. It describes a rich and ancient history of a country that the average North American would otherwise not know anything about. I would recommend it to any one interested in biblical history.

Well researched, but some conclusions are debatable

I was highly impressed with Graham Hancock's committment to completing his quest and telling his story. He did so at the cost of his family, which is regretable. I much appriciate his sacrifice for all of us. It is obvious that he put a great deal of time, research and effort into his work. We now have a more clearer story of the "FOUND" Ark of the Covenant of God; "found" because I do believe it is in Ethiopia. However, I do disagree with a few of Graham's conclusions, specifically with regard to Moses as only being a master magician, educated by the Egyptians, and Jesus as not being the Divine Son of God. I have many ideas and comments on the subject, but with just 1,000 words allowed, I must be brief.I also wish to contact Graham, to share some of my insights, but I do not have a way of establishing communications with him. I have numerous questions, such as: 1) Has Graham actually read the Book of Enoch; 2) Has he done research on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (for they have a lot of templar type traditions-- and a definite connection with Freemasonry); 3) Has he actually attempted to contact the modern Templars and the Vatican for direct questioning, particularly concerning the true motivation for the Knight's quest for the Ark, and concerning the contact of Pope Clement V with the Ethiopian delegation, just one year prior to the persecution of the Templars; and 4) is Graham himself a Templar?I am a Christian and have full faith that the scriptures are accurate. I also do not believe that it is inconsistant that a just and loving God would slay the wicked, for disobeying him-- especially on such sacred and important matters as the establishment of God's Law and Gospel to His Children, on earth, through his vessel-- the Ark. It is not unjust for the righteous to slay the wicked. Therefore, I do not classify God as being a psychopathic murderer as Graham had suggested.

A truly fascinating and intriguing novel!

Hancock really did his homework on this one. Perhaps more emphasis could have been placed on the 'Menelik' myth. Nevertheless, a great job! It is very plausible that the ark is indeed located in Axum, Ehtiopia. Why should we be surprised? Ethiopia, one of the largest and oldest empires in antiquity, has long since had ties to Jeruselum. Making referencene in today's bible, Ethiopia, or 'Cush' can first be seen in Genesis. Secondly, Moses' wife during the 'exodus' was an Ethiopian woman. In the book of Acts, Phillip the evangelist, made a proselyte, of the new testament doctrine concerning the risen Christ, of an Ethiopian treasurer, who was worshipping in Jeruselum and conducting business for Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, at the time. As we can conclude, it would have been a very easy task for the the Queen of Sheba, using established trade & religious routes, to visit Jeruselum and the wise King Solomon; and seeing his obvious appreciation of women, for her to return home pregnant. We can easily dismiss the notion of an Arabic queen. Ethiopia has a historical lineage of queens leading right up to mordern history. The notion that the Queen of Sheba was Arabic can undoubtedly be attributed to the fact that Ethiopia, an imperial power of that time rivaling Egypt, probably controlled that region of the world. But we cannot dismiss the Falashas, or 'black Jews' who were recently (in the 70s'), officially recognized as Jews and were provided settlements in Isreal. They had preserved Old Testament religion to the exact 'letter of the law' as written by Moses, even unto this day. An interesting note, they claim descent from Menelik I, the illegimate son of King Solomon and Makeba, the Queen of Sheba. Even more fascinating is the modern day Battle of Adowa. The king of Ethiopia, Menelik II, as he was called (because of traditional lineage), was reported to have used the ark in this battle. A battle in which the Ethiopians, armed with a few rifles, spearmen, and men on horseback, defeated the Italians, equipped with mordern day weaponry, to include artillery pieces. The odds were something like 4-to-1, in favor of the Italians. In review of the battle, some of the artillery pieces were not even fired. How is that for intriguing (this battle actually happened)? Sounds like the ark of the covenent again. The result of this battle gave recognition to Ethiopia as a modern day world power. Quite a leap from men on horseback to an eventual modern day equipped nation that worshipped the God of Isreal. Other world powers stood in line to conduct business with Menelik II and Ethiopia. The point being, the Ark of the Covenent could only be kept and maintained by a people adhering to the undisputed law of God. And, what better place to keep the ark, if we are to believe in the supernatural power of God, than in a nation that still practices the law of Moses(Falashas), to this very day? Perhaps the ark