Ten things from the Bible that were never actually found
The Bible features many fantastical and fabled objects - many of which have never been discovered despite archeologists’ best efforts.
Excavations continue across the world to uncover ancient artefacts mentioned in biblical texts - with at latest being an early Bronze Age flint workshop in Israel, a sequenced genome of an ancient Egyptian man, and a bulla inscribed with a biblical name.
But for all the advancement, there are a handful of objects mentioned in the Bible that continue to elude experts.
We’ve highlighted ten of these below, including the Temple of Solomon, the linen shroud used to wrap Jesus’ body in, and his Crown of Thorns.
Advert
If you’re interested in more Bible teachings, check out the ten sexual acts that are ‘forbidden’ in the holy book.
Ark of the Covenant
Thought to be a gold-plated box housing the two tablets of the Law given to Moses by God, the Ark of the Covenant rested in the Holy of Holies inside the Tabernacle of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem, according to the religious scriptures.
Unfortunately, archaeologists have long believed that the biblical-era object was either lost or destroyed.
Fun fact: the mysterious artefact also serves as the basis for Steven Spielberg’s seminal first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The Ten Commandments Tablets
Just as the Ark of the Covenant has never been recovered, neither have the so-called stone tablets inscribed by God with the Decalogue that Moses was gifted at Mount Sinai, according to the Old Testament.
It’s understood that when the first set was broken, a second was formed and kept inside the Ark.
In 2024, a 1,500-year-old tablet inscribed with the ten Biblical laws in Paleo-Hebrew script was auctioned for a whopping $5.04 million (£3.73 million). The stone was originally discovered in 1913.
Noah's Ark
Religious people believe God decided to save a man called Noah from a great world-destroying flood, instructing him to build a large boat that would house both him and two of every kind of animal on Earth.
Unsuccessful searches for Noah’s Ark have been going on since antiquity, with ancient scholars obsessed with affirming the historicity of the Genesis flood.
Holy Grail
You may already be familiar with the comedy action-adventure, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but what about the actual artefact itself?
Well, some Bible readers believe the cup is the one Jesus supposedly used at the Last Supper.
A passage from Matthew 26 reads: “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them [the disciples], saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'”
Some scholars are not convinced that there even was a Last Supper before Jesus’ crucifixion, never mind the cup he used going AWOL.
Even if it were real, it’s highly unlikely that the Holy Grail will ever be found, according to Live Science.
The Crown of Thorns
It’s stipulated in the New Testament that during the passion of Christ, a woven crown of thorns was placed upon his head.
The ‘real’ crown that Jesus wore has never been identified; however, Notre-Dame de Paris has had a similar wreath on display since 1804.
The ancient relic was acquired by King Louis IX of France in 1239 and was initially housed in the Sainte-Chapelle.
Some people believe this is actually the thorny tiara that was placed upon the head of the Son of God, but some scholars remain unconvinced.
The Sword of Goliath
The Bible states in 1 Samuel 17 that as a young man, David, the former King of ancient Israel, slew the Philistine giant Goliath. He was later gifted his sword and spear by the priest Ahimelech.
Thought to have measured 9’3” in height (via Biblestudy.org), the sword of Goliath was also thought to of been immense as well as extremely dense.
The weapon remains a myth and has never been uncovered.
The Temple of Solomon
Also known as the first temple, this significant ancient religious structure was erected on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where an angel of God had appeared to David.
Named after its builder, King Solomon, the work on the building was reportedly completed in 957 BCE, according to the Hebrew Bible.
It’s here that the Ark of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments Tablets were allegedly housed.
The Tower of Babel
In biblical literature, the Tower of Babel is a Babylonian structure built to reach the heavens.
The origin myth is used to describe why there are so many languages spoken across the Earth, and how human hubris caused diverse cultures.
Although the Tower has never been proven to be a real structure, it’s thought to have been inspired by a real Mesopotamian ziggurat called Etemenanki.
Etemenanki was dedicated to the Mesopotamian god Marduk. It now only exists in ruins.
The ‘True Cross’
When people talk about the ‘True Cross’, they are talking about the real cross that Jesus was crucified upon.
The existence of the True Cross is not definitively proven by archaeological evidence, but many Christians believe Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, discovered it in Jerusalem around 325–328 AD.
Fragments of this so-called True Cross are spread throughout he world; King Charles III was even gifted some by Pope Francis in 2023.
The Burial Shroud of Jesus
After the crucifixion, Jesus was taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb in Jerusalem.
According to stories told in the Bible, Joseph of Arimathea wrapped him in a ‘linen cloth’ before rolling a stone against the door of the tomb.
The narrative continues, with Jesus’ resurrection taking place on the third day after his death.
While many believe they’ve discovered the Good Shepherd’s resting place - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre - the jury is still out on where that so-called linen cloth went.
Topics: Life, World News, Books
Ella Scott