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

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Review
Graham Hancock has built up a considerable following with his fascinating titles uncovering some of the most arcane secrets in history. His greatest obsession, however, led him to give up nine years of his life in order to find the exact location of the Ark of the Covenant. Unsurprisingly, the reader is often reminded of the pulse-pounding adventure of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and it's a measure of Hancock's skill that a non-fiction title like this has all the compulsive readability of a thriller. The concept of a quest is a recurrent theme in human history, and Hancock's conflation of travelogue, compelling narrative, the disclosure of hidden facts (not to mention the imagination-stretching borders of the possible) are the elements that make his work so popular. He marshals his arguments with real skill, and even those who don't believe a word will find it hard to put down. But his most singular achievement is in the drawing together of the various strands that lead to the resolution of the mystery. Here, as in many high adventure writer from Rider Haggard onwards, Hancock really delivers the goods. (Kirkus UK)

English journalist Hancock retells the circumstances and thoughts that led to his discovery that the Lost Ark of the Covenant really exists. (Note that the subtitle is not How Indy and I Raided the Lost Ark.) Hancock was in Ethiopia in 1983, having been hired by the Ethiopian government to write and produce a coffee-table book extolling that country. He was greatly surprised when told that Ethiopia's Falasha Jews did not exist, and that many people could land in jail, or worse, if he went around photographing such nonexistents. Even so, off he went to Axum, deep in the desert, to see the temples and statuary of the Black Jews of Ethiopia. What he found was a sect that claimed to have the original Ark of the Covenant. Refused entrance to the sanctuary of the jealously guarded Ark, Hancock went home - and saw Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark, which inspired him to investigate the history of the Ark. Built at the foot of Mount Sinai, Hancock tells us, it "was deposited [around 955 B.C.] by Solomon in the Holy of Holies of the First Temple." Later, Hancock says, it was stolen by Solomon's outcast son and carried south to Ethiopia and kept there for 800 years by a Judaic cult. Then it apparently was seized by the Knights Templar, who thought that it was the Holy Grail. The Knights converted the Jews, who kept the Ark in a great church. And to protect the Ark, all of the churches in the cult have their own replicas of the Ark: The original is never seen, even on the holiest days of the year. In 1991, during the Gulf War, Hancock returned to Axum to see the Ark - and was refused. Not as much fun as might be hoped as Hancock digs through literary and biblical texts while convincing himself that the Ark exists. (Kirkus Reviews)

Product Description
Part adventure story and part historical detective work, this is a quest into the real nature and current whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant. The author has found, scattered amongst dusty archives and leading back through cryptically coded parchments, secret societies, the Knights Templar and even the Freemasons, traces of an organized and sometimes sinister tradition of quest for the Ark. Against this backdrop he mounts his own search for the sacred relic, a search that takes him to the tombs and pyramids of Ancient Egypt, to the walls of Jericho and the Temple Mount in Israel, and amidst civil war and political turmoil to the country in which the Ark is said to rest. Graham Hancock's other books include "Lords of Poverty".

13 Reviews 5 star:  (10) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.5 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Detective Work at its Finest, 30 Nov 2002 By  Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    This is an exceedingly interesting book, albeit controversial, for anyone interested in "history's mysteries." For those of us who have pored through the works of Zecharia Sitchin and dared to ponder questions that the scientists and religious authorities regard as sacrilegious (after all, science itself is a religion), this is especially interesting material. You don't have to believe in Hancock's theories (although he offers a weighty, serious argument for them) in order to love this book. Even if you regard the idea of the Ark of the Covenant resting in Ethiopia (or the notion that the Ark even exists) as preposterous, you can enjoy this book in the same way you can delight in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories; this book is about solving a mystery. Just as Holmes' series of adventures often resulted in no real, firm, graspable truth, so is the case here. This detracts little from the story, however. The final judgment is left up to you, the reader, which is the trademark of any substantive mystery--only in this way can the great and unattainable "truth," in its most esoteric sense, be discovered. Granted, Hancock is not a scientist or theologian, but this may in fact serve as his greatest qualification for tackling the types of lofty problems he embraces. After all, the vast majority of scientists and theologians dismiss without consideration the sorts of "wild" ideas discussed in this book; if not for the open minds of men like Mr. Hancock, many truths that have now been established would remain jokes told by the arrogant "experts" over tea--take, as an example, the discovery of Troy. As for the content of this book, it truly is a mix of history, religion, and archaeology. This is not Indiana Jones' quest for the Ark of the Covenant, so anyone looking for that sort of action will be disappointed. Anyone expecting to see pictures and Hancock's personal descriptions of the Ark will also be disappointed. Whatever rests in the Church of Saint Mary of Zion in Ethiopia will not and probably should not be revealed to the eyes of anyone other than its appointed guardian. What you will find in this book is a lesson on the history of the ancient Israelites and of the Biblical Ark, a history of Ethiopia (which I for one had never really heard the first thing about), a history of the mysterious Knights Templar (truly fascinating and mysterious men), and an enlightening story of Gothic architecture and mediaeval literature. Parzival is not an easy book to read, and thus it is rather unknown, even though it is just as important (and, if Hancock is correct, much more important) than Malory's better-known treatment of King Arthur and his search for the Holy Grail. The idea Hancock presents, namely that the Holy Grail was in fact the Ark of the Covenant, manages to bring together the story of the two most important Biblical artifacts in history. If you have an open mind and a zest for "understanding," then this book should definitely be included on your reading list. Believe Hancock's opinions or not, the tale he tells is fascinating, dramatic, and intellectually enlightening. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   18 of 19 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Archaeology meets adventure !!, 16 Jan 2003 By  duncan kaiser (broseley, shropshire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Sign and the Seal: Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant (Paperback) This book is a wonderful, gripping descent into ancient history and biblical myth. Part adventure, part archaeological detective work, the reader can't fail to get sucked in as the author's obsession with his subject carries you along. The search for the fabled Ark Of The Covenant, in which it is said that Moses placed the Ten Commandments etched upon tablets of stone, takes in a journey through distant lands and the sands of time. The style of writing conveys each step of the journey in vivid and eminently readable detail as you wait for the next clue to emerge from some ancient script or stone carving. For anyone who has even the slightest interest in biblical stories, the mysteries of the ancient world, or of some of the great figures in history, this book will keep you enthralled. Meticulously researched, written with verve, gusto, and no little skill, and with a tantalising quest at its core, this is one of the best, and earliest, books in the now saturated alternative archaeology genre. READ IT !! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe it's not true, but it's nice to dream, 11 Jun 2006 By  Mr. R. A. Horrocks "Bob Horrocks" (China) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Sign and the Seal: Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant (Paperback) This book is quite hard to believe, the story of where the Ark of the Covenant rests is surely going to be very contreversial. However, I have lived in Ethiopia and been to all the places that the author mentions and it is true that Ethiopians believe with a passion that the Ark rests in Axum. When I read the book I can take my mind back to Axum, Lailibela and Addis and feel exactly what he feels. I hope that people who read this book take time to imagine the rich history that Ethiopia has and perhaps they will be inspired to go see this beautiful country for themselves and make up their own minds. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 13 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating historical investigation A must-read for anyone interested in the Ark of the Covenant or historical mysteries regarding ancient relics and the origins of religions in general. Read more Published 5 months ago by Sylvain Tristan 5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult To Fault In Any Way. For people that are looking for a genuine attempt to locate the one true Ark Of The Covenant, one should no look further that this excellent book. Read more Published 14 months ago by Astore Stargazer 5.0 out of 5 stars A great adventure I am a big fan of Graham Hancock's work and particularly this book. In a nutshell Hancock goes on a quest to find the lost Ark of the Covenant. Read more Published on 29 April 2007 by samr1975 5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Read!!! From the time I began to read this book I was hooked. The ideas put forth manage to walk a fine line between improbable and absolutely obvious, and then combine the two in order... Read more Published on 29 Mar 2006 by toddstone2708 5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read and a ripping yarn ? Mr Hancocks books are always fascinating and seem to be based on honest and accurate investigation. However i do feel that some times he makes great leaps from supposition to... Read more Published on 4 Aug 2005 4.0 out of 5 stars Takes its time, all the good stuff is at the end.... As I've summarised above this book takes a while to get going. It starts with Graham Hancocks investigations, travels etc. and really is quite boring to begin with. Read more Published on 17 Jun 2004 by Isen 1.0 out of 5 stars Dreadful !!!! This is one of the worst books I have ever read.Like all of this author's books ,by the time you finish,you will wonder why you bothered. Published on 18 Jan 2004 by Clive Culbertson 5.0 out of 5 stars SEAL OUR FATE! This book is yet another great piece of writing from a man who's life must never lack adventure. This book is a gripping read even if you have no faith or religion yourself. Read more Published on 21 Jan 2001 by Mr. S. R. Lewsey 5.0 out of 5 stars A great piece of detective work I can thouroughly recommend this book to any reader. Hancock explores the whole history of the arc and leads the reader to a gripping finale with a twist. Published on 5 Jul 2000 by richard@kcagroup.demon.co.uk 4.0 out of 5 stars Great esoterica, unique information on Ethiopia Hancock delves an enormous number of sources and finds long distance connections to investigate whether the Ark of the Covenant might be in Ethiopia, as the locals believe... Read more Published on 20 Oct 1999 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 13 customer reviews...

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