Customer Reviews
One Coincidence too Many - By: Robert Feather, 31 Aug 2007 
Coincidences play an important partin the progress of the author's quest for the Ark. His early research into the possible existence & subsequent disappearance of this holiest of artifacts makes interesting reading & Phillips is especially adept at relating biblical references relevant to his search to external sources. Herein, however, lies a severe weaknessin his arguments. He too often takes the bible quite literally as fact - for example that the Kings Solomon & David really did achieve what the Hebrew Testament claims. He latches on to snippets of evidence fed to him by an obvious maximalist & builds an edifice based on completely unproven ground. Certainly there are elements of truthin these United Kingdom period stories, but it is the vast paucity of archaeological or external corroborative evidence, from the records of surrounding countries, that belies these particular core Biblical claims. He also manages to get the timing of the Exodus, & therefore Moses' chronology, quite wrong, According to latest research the Exodus took placein the 12th century BCE, although thisin itself does not vitiate the possibility that the Hebrews possessed a Holy Ark & carried it around with them until it was finally placedin the Temple at Jerusalem. The implication that the Qumran Essenes actually possessed or knew the whereabouts of the Ark or the Stones of Fire - which Phillips takes to be the jewels of the High Priest's Breastplate - is very questionable.
After eliminated Mounts Sinai, Horeb, & other contestant Holy mountains, Mount Seir,in today's Petra area, is finally deduced as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Having climbed this High Place I doubt if Moses let alone the elders could have survived the treacherous climb without a few heart attacks. Even today, with a defined path & assisting steps, it is a real challenge. When you arrive at the very top you are on hands & knees & there find a pagan sacrifice scene that would have been entirely inappropriate for a new religious experience. The suggestion Phillips makes, that the inhabiting Edomites were already followers of a Mosaic-style monotheism, to try & overcome this fact, just doesn't make sense. Moses went up the Holy Mountain to establish the form of a new monotheistic religion. Then, oh dear, another coincidence intrudes. Having searched all over the Middle East the author makes his astonishing find of three semi-precious stones right next to where he lives,in Warwickshire! One has to wonder if the trail was actually reversed & the search started near Coventry, England, & worked its way back to Seir via various dubious coincidences.
A Different Perspective - By: Thomas Law, 21 Nov 2006 
The Templars & the Ark of the Covenant is different from most booksin the alternative history genre,in that it is a personal investigation by the author toldin the first person. I am pleased to say that the historical research does not suffer because of this, although the ending takes a bit of swallowing. Allin all, one exciting read.
Great Stuff - By: Ben Roberts, 21 Nov 2006 
There have been very few books on biblical mysteries that are quite as riveting as this. From beginning to end it is a clue-solving adventure & a true-life historical detective story.
Awful - By: Rosicrucian, 25 Aug 2006 
I am wondering if these other reviewers have read the same book. It is slow, unwitting & tells nothing new except the creations of the imagination of Phillips. There is no evidence for what he asserts & he backs almost none of his statements up with any. It reveals a distinct lack of knowledge of the Templars & has almost nothing to do with the Ark. There is no dicovery &in fact it is a half finished book. Although, the pictures are well-done & the design ok. That said, there are relatively few "Ark" books of worth although Stuart Munro-Hay wrote some first class & well-researched scholarly books on the subject.
Brilliant - By: Mr. Stan B. Brotherton, 13 Sep 2005 A compelling read, well argued, well researched, full of insight & interest. Like other reviewers, I've read quite a few of Graham Phillip's books, & they're all good, but this one is truly excellent. Highly, highly recommended.
