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The Ark of the Covenant was presumably located in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. when Titus conquered the city and destroyed the Temple. Is there any historical indication of what happened to the Ark of the Covenant and the other items inside the Temple at that time, such as Aaron's budding staff, the two tablets of the testimony (10 Commandments), the Brazen Altar, and the Table of Bread?

Were the Jews able to hide these things or were they captured?

(Assuming, of course, that Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark was not a documentary.)

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I've heard theories that it is buried in the Temple Mount and in Ethiopia, but nothing more substantial than Discovery Channel to back it up... – Affable Geek Dec 19 '12 at 17:27
The Templars had it. Where did you think King Philip IV of France got the wood to use when they burnt DeMolay? – user1054 Dec 20 '12 at 2:51
Certainly not from trees! – svidgen Dec 20 '12 at 20:26

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There are several historical hints to the location of the Ark. Many of them are contradictory. The problem isn't so much finding historical evidence that points to possible current locations of the Ark, it's that we have no way of determining which, if any, are valid, true, and reliable.

For example, ChristianAnswers.Net gives several possible locations. The Church of Ethiopia claims to have it. This is backed up by the writings of Abu Salih the Armenian in the late 1100s. WND.com has a page indicating it might be beneath the temple Mount, and claims "compelling evidence" points to the theory.

However, the introductory statement to the article at WND.com pretty much backs up what my original paragraph claims.

WASHINGTON

It would almost inarguably be the greatest archaeological find in history.

Movies have been made about it.

Voluminous books have explored its whereabouts.

Those voluminous books are filled with historical and archaeological hints to the whereabouts. But, to this day, if anyone truly knows where it is, they sure aren't offering proof. Until the actual Ark is revealed, I doubt the world at large will know where it is, regardless of how many hints exist. The volume of hints actually helps to ensure that it remains safe, hidden, as it lays all sorts of false trails for those searching for it.

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You're right about the false trails, there are at least two very plausible finds that could be it. The other part of the problem is that there is no way to be really sure when you've hit gold. It's not going to have a sign over the door saying "Welcome to Noah's A... oh wait we're talking about the other ark here. Your answer is almost interchangeable although the question is clear (but I missed that). – Caleb♦ Dec 20 '12 at 13:45

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