Customer Reviews

The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant: The Discovery of the Treasure of Solomon

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With so many books being written about the Holy Grail at the moment, with the Da Vinci Code making the subject popular, it is refreshing to find one about another sacred artifact. Interestingly, although the Ark of the Covenant is clearly the most important relic mentioned in the Bible, it has been the Grail, or the cup of the Last Supper, which has attracted the most interest by historians and other researchers. In this book, Phillips examines the Ark - the gold chest that was supposed to perform miracles - and proposes some interesting ideas about how it might have worked. He also follows the trail of a group of twelfth-century Crusader knights who claim to have found it and re-hid it when they were persecuted by the Church. Personally, I am not sure that this was the right trail for the author to follow as there are a number of other possible scenarios for what may have happened to the Ark after it disappeared from the Temple of Solomon in Old Testament times. Nevertheless, Phillips does examine most of the other theories in his book, although not in as much detail as I would have liked. In particular: the theory that the Ark was taken to Ethiopia where it is still thought to reside. All the same, this is a well-written, easy to follow investigation, told in the first person with some remarkable adventures along the way.

Being an historian myself, I found this book interesting to say the least. The author does a great deal of original research tracing the various Ark of the Covenant legends. The trail he finally decides to follow takes him to Great Britain where the Knights Templars are rumored to have brought the Ark after discovering it at Mount Sinai (at least one mountain that may have been Mount Sinai) in the twelfth century. Once again, there is a great deal of new material here that the author has done much legwork uncovering. The book ends with an extraordinary quest to unravel a series of secret codes left by the Templars and their successors, and a series of what can only be termed supernatural events. I recently visited England and went to the sites involved and have to admit that everything is just as Graham Phillips describes. I'm not too sure what to make of the author and his companion's claims to have seen strange, floating balls of light in the area where the Templars are supposed to have hidden the Ark, but there do seem to be a lot of witnesses the phenomena. I actually spoke to some of them myself while there. This book takes a certain suspension of disbelief, but it is well worth the read. I found it a most enjoyable and well written historical mystery. It all sounds far more exciting than the kind of research I do.

There has never been a book like this before. Archaeology and history are usually stuffy subjects which don't make exciting reading. Well, now that has all changed. This is a genuinely thrilling, first-hand account of the author's quest to discover the Ark of the Covenant and the other treasures that were once kept in the Temple of Solomon. Staring in Jerusalem, Phillips questions archaeologists and biblical scholars to piece together a trail of clues that lead to an ancient book kept in an underground shrine at the birthplace of Christ in Bethlehem. A passage in this sacred text then leads him to a mountain at Petra in Jordan where he discovers Arab accounts of a treasure found centuries ago by the Knights Templars. These crusader knights, he discovers, took these precious artifacts back to Britain where they built a chapel to house them - relics that were said to have included the Lost Ark and gemstones from the biblical breastplate of Aaron. Together with two American researchers, Phillips discovers a mysterious code left in a church stained-glass window, thought to reveal where the Templars eventually hid what they had brought back from the Middle East.

I won't give too much away, as the story is so exciting that it would be a shame to ruin the plot, but in the end a treasure is finally found - and under the most amazing circumstances. Although it reads like a Da Vinci code, this book is a true story, involving real protagonists and the places and clues involved in the quest are all there to be seen. Considering that there is supposed to be more of the treasure still to be found, I imagine that many others will soon be following the trail. This seems to be the buzz book in Europe at the moment. Don't let that put off American readers. There are Americans involved with the search - and it is an American girl who finally discovers the treasure.

This is a neatly paced and inspiring book that handles an involved historical subject beautifully. You feel that you are actually there with the author as he follows a trail of ancient clues in search of the Ark of the Covenant.

The investigation begins at an archaeological dig in Jerusalem where an archaeologist believes that there may be truth in the Bible story of the golden chest that was said to contain the Ten Commandments. We then move on to the Judean Wilderness and meet a reclusive Israeli linguist who helped decipher the Dead Sea Scrolls and who believes that the lost Ark may been hidden centuries ago and is still somewhere, waiting to be found. After finding an early version of the Bible in Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem which reveals the hiding place of the Ark as a mountain cave in southern Jordan, we follow the author to an astonishing ruined city that lies in the heart of the blistering Negev Desert. Here we discover that the artifact has already been found, 800 years ago by the Templars: a secretive order of crusader knights who suddenly and mysteriously became wealthy and powerful. Here begins the quest to decipher a series of intricate coded messages left by the Templars to reveal where they themselves eventually hid the Ark when their order was persecuted in the early fourteenth century.

Graham Phillips has a splendid way of bringing the people and places he visits alive in a descriptive and eloquent manner. He interweaves the historical information neatly and concisely without detracting from the excitement of discovery or digressing from the adventurous narrative. The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant is a well written and cleverly researched piece of historical detective work.

This has to be one of the most exciting books I have ever read. I have always been interested in biblical mysteries and have long been fascinated by the Ark of the Covenant. When I bought this book I thought that it would be another speculative theory on what the Ark might really have been. Instead, I found myself reading a book that read like a best-selling thriller. The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant is not only an extremely informative book about the mystery of the lost Ark, it is also a modern-day adventure story involving secret codes, hidden treasure and some astonishing events. If the stone slab that Graham Phillips and his colleagues discovered really does turn out to be one of the Ten Commandment tablets then it will certainly reveal a lot about the truth of the Old Testament accounts of ancient miracles. I really hope that there will be a sequel.

Graham Phillips leads a really exhilarating life as an historical detective and in this new book of his you can follow him on a thrilling adventure in search of the lost ark. Told in the first person, the narrative is erudite and gripping from beginning to end. It starts in Jerusalem and ends in a secluded wood in - believe it or not - rural England. Americans should not be disappointed by the fact that the action does not take place in the USA as there are Americans involved in the search. In fact, it is an American girl who ultimately finds the treasure. Although this is a book about history, it is also an Indiana Jones style quest in which some quiet extraordinary events occur.

If the Ark of the Covenant existed it has to be the most extraordinary artifact in history, says the author of this book. Well, if this book is for real then it has to be one of the most extraordinary true stories in history. I really hope it is, because it not only means that the Ark existed but that it also had the power the Bible says it did. It also means that this world is truly a mysterious place. One way or the other, in this racy, apparently true-life historical thriller, the reader is taken on a journey of discovery that leaves you breathless.

I have just finished reading this book and I'm still breathless. It is a great read with some amazing twists in the adventure. It reads like a good novel but it claims to be a true story. I am knowledgeable on Old Testament and early Jewish history and, as far as I can tell, the author keeps to the facts. To be honest, I don't care if it is true or not - I loved every page.

This book was fascinating from beginning to end, an investigative mystery of the past and present. I would recommend it to anyone who liked the 'Davinci Code' which was wonderful and insightful as a novel. With Graham Phillip's book being non-fiction, it made me believe fully in the magic that surrounds us daily and gave me an insight into the symbolism that was embedded within the Old Testament - bringing it to life in a whole new way, in a way that reflects today's way of living.

If you know nothing about the Ark of the Covenant or if you are well versed in its lore, this book will have appeal. It presents its origin and traces its history through to the present day possibilities of where it may be located. Phillips approach existing myths concerning the Ark in a purely analytical manner. He looks at the four different possibilities where the Ark could have been lost as laid out in the Old Testament and explores each decision tree fork through to its conclusion dispelling the possibilities of where the Israelites could have lost Ark and its final fate and last resting place. He provides compelling evidence to the accuracy of the historical records in the Old Testament concerning the Ark and logical rationale as to the Ark's present day location. What I particularly like is his reasoning and conjectures are clearly explained which empowers the reader to agree with the book or to draw his own conclusions.

Aesthetically, the binding and paper are top notch, it has a bibliography and colour photos. The index is marginally useful as it is sparse, but this does not detract from the work.

Break out your hat and whip as you'll feel like Indiana Jones reading this: it's a must for those interested in the Ark of the Covenant.

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