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Raiders of the Hidden Ark: The Story of the Parker Expedition to Jerusalem
The mystery surrounding the Ark of the Covenant’s location is among the world’s greatest and most enduring. One of the Bible’s most sacred and powerful objects has not been seen for over 2,500 years. The missing Ark has inspired many quests and even a famous film.
Perhaps the most remarkable of the quests to find the Ark is the Parker expedition. Its story seems stranger than fiction and includes aristocrats, poets, psychics, secret cyphers in the Bible, a deadly curse, bribery, gun-running, riots, and madness. It sounds unbelievable but the Parker expedition is real. Rudyard Kipling, who knew several expedition members, wrote ‘Talk of fiction! Fiction isn’t in it’.
In 1908, a Finnish scholar convinced a group of young Englishmen from wealthy and titled families he had uncovered secret cyphers in the Bible showing where the Ark was hidden. They were educated at Eton, had fought in elite units of the British military and socialised with European royalty and rich Americans. One had thwarted an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria, another had helped spark the Boer War, and most of the funding came from the family of one of the richest men to have ever lived in Australia. They headed for Jerusalem on a private yacht to dig for the Ark. With them were a Swiss psychic, a Finnish poet, and a Swedish captain who had experienced the darkest heart of colonial madness in the Belgian Congo.
During the course of their years of digging for the Ark the Parker expedition unwittingly ‘scattered sparks in the religious tinder-heap’ that is Jerusalem. Its impact still has echoes today. They caused riots and disorder resulting in headlines around the world and a parliamentary enquiry:
‘Have Englishmen Found the Ark of the Covenant?’ - New York Times 7th May 1911
‘Englishmen Are Said To Have Looted the Sacred Mosque at Jerusalem’ - Chicago Tribune 4th May 1911
‘Treasure Trove in Jerusalem, Alleged Profanation of a Famous Mosque, Moslem Alarm’ - Daily Express 4th May 1911
‘Theft of Relics in the Jerusalem Mosque of Omar’ - Vossische Zeitung 2nd May 1911
Previously untold in English in its entirety, Graham Addison examines who the adventurers were, why they went, what really happened while they were in Jerusalem and what happened to them afterwards.
Reviews
‘The Parker expedition ranks as the weirdest of all archaeological excavations, yet the details of what took place in Jerusalem in the early 1900s have remained mysterious. Thanks to Graham Addison’s meticulous sleuthing, we now have a much clearer–and even more fascinating–glimpse into an expedition that rocked the world.’ – Andrew Lawler, author of Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City
‘In 'Raiders of the Hidden Ark', Graham Addison has revealed the incredible story of the ill-fated Parker expedition to find the Ark of the Covenant. Meticulously researched, and expertly told, this book is a masterpiece of historical research and story-telling. Compelling reading.’ - Felicity Cobbing, Chief Executive & Curator, Palestine Exploration Fund
‘This is the story of a remarkable adventure, exciting, harrowing, beautifully written and thoroughly researched. Graham Addison displays not only an acute understanding of period and location but also of the levels of society in which his fascinatingly complex characters were part. His account of this extraordinary undertaking, and for many its tragic aftermath, is a truly impressive undertaking.’ - Lady Selina Hastings, author
‘The most complete account of the Parker expedition I have read. It brings to light many new aspects of the expedition.' - Ronny Reich, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, University of Haifa and Excavator of the City of David (1995-2010)
Perhaps the most remarkable of the quests to find the Ark is the Parker expedition. Its story seems stranger than fiction and includes aristocrats, poets, psychics, secret cyphers in the Bible, a deadly curse, bribery, gun-running, riots, and madness. It sounds unbelievable but the Parker expedition is real. Rudyard Kipling, who knew several expedition members, wrote ‘Talk of fiction! Fiction isn’t in it’.
In 1908, a Finnish scholar convinced a group of young Englishmen from wealthy and titled families he had uncovered secret cyphers in the Bible showing where the Ark was hidden. They were educated at Eton, had fought in elite units of the British military and socialised with European royalty and rich Americans. One had thwarted an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria, another had helped spark the Boer War, and most of the funding came from the family of one of the richest men to have ever lived in Australia. They headed for Jerusalem on a private yacht to dig for the Ark. With them were a Swiss psychic, a Finnish poet, and a Swedish captain who had experienced the darkest heart of colonial madness in the Belgian Congo.
During the course of their years of digging for the Ark the Parker expedition unwittingly ‘scattered sparks in the religious tinder-heap’ that is Jerusalem. Its impact still has echoes today. They caused riots and disorder resulting in headlines around the world and a parliamentary enquiry:
‘Have Englishmen Found the Ark of the Covenant?’ - New York Times 7th May 1911
‘Englishmen Are Said To Have Looted the Sacred Mosque at Jerusalem’ - Chicago Tribune 4th May 1911
‘Treasure Trove in Jerusalem, Alleged Profanation of a Famous Mosque, Moslem Alarm’ - Daily Express 4th May 1911
‘Theft of Relics in the Jerusalem Mosque of Omar’ - Vossische Zeitung 2nd May 1911
Previously untold in English in its entirety, Graham Addison examines who the adventurers were, why they went, what really happened while they were in Jerusalem and what happened to them afterwards.
Reviews
‘The Parker expedition ranks as the weirdest of all archaeological excavations, yet the details of what took place in Jerusalem in the early 1900s have remained mysterious. Thanks to Graham Addison’s meticulous sleuthing, we now have a much clearer–and even more fascinating–glimpse into an expedition that rocked the world.’ – Andrew Lawler, author of Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City
‘In 'Raiders of the Hidden Ark', Graham Addison has revealed the incredible story of the ill-fated Parker expedition to find the Ark of the Covenant. Meticulously researched, and expertly told, this book is a masterpiece of historical research and story-telling. Compelling reading.’ - Felicity Cobbing, Chief Executive & Curator, Palestine Exploration Fund
‘This is the story of a remarkable adventure, exciting, harrowing, beautifully written and thoroughly researched. Graham Addison displays not only an acute understanding of period and location but also of the levels of society in which his fascinatingly complex characters were part. His account of this extraordinary undertaking, and for many its tragic aftermath, is a truly impressive undertaking.’ - Lady Selina Hastings, author
‘The most complete account of the Parker expedition I have read. It brings to light many new aspects of the expedition.' - Ronny Reich, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, University of Haifa and Excavator of the City of David (1995-2010)
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 27, 2022
So a bunch of privileged and entitled upper class Etonians go on a boy’s own adventure in Jerusalem, oblivious of and insensitive to political and cultural feelings, all set on a hare-brained quest to locate the lost biblical Ark of the Covenant. It’s an eminently British romp although other nationalities were involved including a deranged Swede who believed he had uncovered a cypher in the Book of Ezekiel which gave the location of the Ark. An enormous amount of money was ploughed into the expedition and it’s astonishing just how many people were swept up in it and thought it a worthwhile thing to do. It’s a truly fascinating story, meticulously and exhaustively – and exhaustingly – researched and clearly and accessibly written. The author’s passion for the tale comes over loud and clear. The Parker expedition is the stuff of legends and I really enjoyed discovering all about it. The book is at times perhaps too detailed, as the background of each member of the group is gone into and this slows the narrative, and with so many characters involved it’s sometimes hard to keep track of exactly who everyone is (not helped by the fact they all somewhat resemble each other) but overall this is a truly enjoyable and entertaining account of a frankly mad attempt to do the impossible – find the Ark.
September 1, 2021
This is the story of the Parker Expedition, an expedition mounted by a peculiar bunch, who weren’t experts per se, but certainly enthusiastic and meticulous in their attempt to find the Ark of the Covenant. From the research, the motives, the dismissive attitude towards the looting of antiquities and the historical importance and legacy of said research – the author covers it all.
I was sceptical about this read in a sense that I thought it would be a tale of religious zealots or passionate historians trying to find a mythical boat. Even now the tale of the Ark inspires many for a multitude of reasons, often spiritual and of course there is the element of infamy plus possible financial gains.
It’s exactly those reasons for the Parker Expedition that the author goes into in details. I can honestly say by the end that Addison had drawn me in hook, line and sinker. I do love a well-researched venture into history, especially when the object in question holds such power in religion, and yet the author gives facts without playing into the aspect of religion other than written references left throughout history.
I found the political and historical implications of the Parker Expedition absolutely fascinating – certainly in regards to the last few decades. Follow the money couldn’t be any more accurate, and of course why said money sources have an invested interest in this particular hotbed area of contention.
*I received a courtesy copy*
I was sceptical about this read in a sense that I thought it would be a tale of religious zealots or passionate historians trying to find a mythical boat. Even now the tale of the Ark inspires many for a multitude of reasons, often spiritual and of course there is the element of infamy plus possible financial gains.
It’s exactly those reasons for the Parker Expedition that the author goes into in details. I can honestly say by the end that Addison had drawn me in hook, line and sinker. I do love a well-researched venture into history, especially when the object in question holds such power in religion, and yet the author gives facts without playing into the aspect of religion other than written references left throughout history.
I found the political and historical implications of the Parker Expedition absolutely fascinating – certainly in regards to the last few decades. Follow the money couldn’t be any more accurate, and of course why said money sources have an invested interest in this particular hotbed area of contention.
*I received a courtesy copy*
November 12, 2021
I picked this book just because of the title-like most people, I'm a huge fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I have never been more glad that I made that snap decision-this is an absolutely excellent book. Ostensibly about a famed ( at its time, by all contemporary news outlets, I didn't know of it before I read this book though) expedition to locate the site of the Ark of the Covenant, the book's a beautiful exploration of a time in the early 20th Century when most Empires were at a precarious state- the Young Turk revolution in the Ottoman Empire, there was unrest in Russia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was weakening, the British Empire had just seen a Pyrrhic victory in the Boer War. Governments were whipping up jingoistic sentiments as a means of misdirection, during time of increasing economic uncertainty. A magical object that could vanquish your enemies, clearly seemed like a noble quest to undertake!You don't need to know anything about the Bible, or history, to enjoy this book-Addison has excellently written chapters about the Ark itself ( that make it sound like a fairly useful object to have ,really-it spends its time giving your enemies leprosy and causing earthquakes and so on.), and the mysterious disappearance of its mentions from the Bible from around 550 BC-an absolute gift for conspiracy theorists. Through his chapters on the backgrounds of each of the expedition members, Addison explores a facet of the time- the influence of public schools on politics and colonialism, colonialism in the Congo ( one of the best chapters), the Boer War. An underlying theme throughout the book is the reasons for specific archaeological excavations, and the theories one is seeking to prove-brought out excellently well once the Expedition reaches Jerusalem. THere are some lovely chapters with excerpts from contemporary THomas Cook's travel guides (since they arranged pilgrimages to Jerusalem) and some excellent descriptions of the area. Jerusalem was under the Ottoman EMpire, governed by an ethnically Turkish Governor who prided himself on his inability to speak Arabic or Hebrew, with mayors and Guardians of the Al-Aqsa compound being Arabic, and then, as now( though probably less now), was an intensely cosmopolitan city with a multitude of religious identities, languages, ethnicities. It was also a bit of a powder keg, and like the rest of the Ottoman Empire, cracks in the facade and dissent against their rulers were prominent. The chapters on the excavations are fascinating, and detail the painstaking labours required. Things went wrong, however, through a combination of hubris, apathy to local religious sentiments and petty corruption, with the preceding chapters having laid an excellent foundation to show how it all combined to cause their problems with the dig. Addison goes on to describe the fates of the Expedition members, and traces the ending of the Edwardian Age through their lives. What I loved about the book was its succinct writing about the origins of the disputed status of Jerusalem and its importance to 3 major religions. It's tragic to read of riots breaking out in 2021, for similar reasons for riots breaking out in the early 20th Century, and the various missteps by world powers that have created this situation.If you're a fan of Indiana Jones, definitely read this book, it's as good! And even if you're not, still definitely read this book, it captures a time and attitudes that have ripple effects to this day, very evocatively.
September 3, 2021
Any similarities with the title of a well-known film should be dismissed immediately. This book is all fact, and the stories of each member of The Parker Expedition to Jerusalem. This book is a detailed investigation into each member of an expedition which spanned several years, what motivated them separately and collectively, and some of the challenges that the project faced. It looks at the political upheavals that they had to contend with, as well as the effects of their excavations in Jerusalem, always a place of strife and no more so than in the twentieth century. It examines the life of each man who was involved before, during and after the expedition’s active years, as well as their family backgrounds. One commentator announced that “they were just young men with more money than brains” but the fact remains that Parker gathered men who agreed to journey to Jerusalem and stay there for extended periods of physical labour, as well as put money into the venture.
The inspiration for the expedition was the discovery of some “Secret Cyphers” in the books of the Old Testament by a Swedish scholar, Valer Henrik Juvelius in about 1910.The Biblical text in the original languages gives some hints about the fate of the Ark - a sort of box made with great ceremony that was central to Jewish worship. Various stories about the temple of Solomon and its destruction suggested to Juvelius that the Ark was taken away and hidden before the building was attacked. Juvelius claimed that by the application of numbers and other hints he had identified the most likely place in which to find the precious box. The story of how a group of men was assembled, the finance to cover the trip, the permission to excavate gained and some of the challenges makes for a fascinating account. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this well researched and written book.
The style of the writing is deeply discursive. The background of each man is offered, with Addison pointing out many similarities between them; that they mainly did not take on the adventure for money as they came from relatively wealthy families, they were mostly younger sons who could not be expected to inherit the title or bulk of the family fortune. Nevertheless, in the early part of the twentieth century they were not expected to earn a living or to engage in business or trade. They could serve in the armed forces, where they would need to be of independent means to buy and support a commission, but in the absence of war they were seeking adventure. Some of the expedition party were wealthy enough, such as Wilson, to invest heavily in shares of the project’s funding. It was agreed that each person would contribute a certain amount of money in the hopes of receiving a similar percentage of profits from the discoveries which were expected to represent a massive amount of money. Addison has carefully translated many amounts into 2021 values, so that the reader can understand the formidable sums involved. In pointing this out, he suggests that the money spent would have included substantial amounts for bribing officials and others to permit the excavations to proceed. The Ottoman Empire held Jerusalem in the first years of the twentieth century, but it was a volatile place where three major religions had interests and property. Work in the area was never straightforward even before any digging began. The site on which the search centered was criss-crossed by tunnels, each of which had to be excavated by hand. One of the benefits provided by the search was the full employment of local labour and even the improvement of a water supply.
Addison points out in his Preface “At the risk of ruining the ending L can confirm they failed to find the Ark”. The strength of this book is the commitment to tracing the stories of the people who were brought together in a quest for a legendary object. After the expedition broke up and the First World War erupted, there were men who fought and died on the battlefields of France as officers who suffered the greatest loss as a class. This is not a book of maps and plans, facts and figures and a dry narrative, but a lively and personal account that details such events as a disastrous procession in full military uniform. Having set that there is a comprehensive table of Investors in the project, a Bibliography, a list of Illustrations, Notes and a detailed Index. This book provides human interest and an academic basis for studying a fascinating series of events in the early twentieth century, and I recommend it as an impressive book.
The inspiration for the expedition was the discovery of some “Secret Cyphers” in the books of the Old Testament by a Swedish scholar, Valer Henrik Juvelius in about 1910.The Biblical text in the original languages gives some hints about the fate of the Ark - a sort of box made with great ceremony that was central to Jewish worship. Various stories about the temple of Solomon and its destruction suggested to Juvelius that the Ark was taken away and hidden before the building was attacked. Juvelius claimed that by the application of numbers and other hints he had identified the most likely place in which to find the precious box. The story of how a group of men was assembled, the finance to cover the trip, the permission to excavate gained and some of the challenges makes for a fascinating account. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this well researched and written book.
The style of the writing is deeply discursive. The background of each man is offered, with Addison pointing out many similarities between them; that they mainly did not take on the adventure for money as they came from relatively wealthy families, they were mostly younger sons who could not be expected to inherit the title or bulk of the family fortune. Nevertheless, in the early part of the twentieth century they were not expected to earn a living or to engage in business or trade. They could serve in the armed forces, where they would need to be of independent means to buy and support a commission, but in the absence of war they were seeking adventure. Some of the expedition party were wealthy enough, such as Wilson, to invest heavily in shares of the project’s funding. It was agreed that each person would contribute a certain amount of money in the hopes of receiving a similar percentage of profits from the discoveries which were expected to represent a massive amount of money. Addison has carefully translated many amounts into 2021 values, so that the reader can understand the formidable sums involved. In pointing this out, he suggests that the money spent would have included substantial amounts for bribing officials and others to permit the excavations to proceed. The Ottoman Empire held Jerusalem in the first years of the twentieth century, but it was a volatile place where three major religions had interests and property. Work in the area was never straightforward even before any digging began. The site on which the search centered was criss-crossed by tunnels, each of which had to be excavated by hand. One of the benefits provided by the search was the full employment of local labour and even the improvement of a water supply.
Addison points out in his Preface “At the risk of ruining the ending L can confirm they failed to find the Ark”. The strength of this book is the commitment to tracing the stories of the people who were brought together in a quest for a legendary object. After the expedition broke up and the First World War erupted, there were men who fought and died on the battlefields of France as officers who suffered the greatest loss as a class. This is not a book of maps and plans, facts and figures and a dry narrative, but a lively and personal account that details such events as a disastrous procession in full military uniform. Having set that there is a comprehensive table of Investors in the project, a Bibliography, a list of Illustrations, Notes and a detailed Index. This book provides human interest and an academic basis for studying a fascinating series of events in the early twentieth century, and I recommend it as an impressive book.
September 24, 2021
As soon as I saw this book is about a search for the Ark of the Covenant my interest piqued. I’ve dabbled in archaeology and know it’s been an object of obsession for many. For those that might not know, the Ark of the Covenant is a wooden chest covered in pure gold decoration. It was created to house the Ten Commandments which Moses received from God. The design described in detail by God to Moses, is recorded in the Bible. At the time of it’s creation (over 3,000 years ago) it was a hugely significant religious object to the Israelites. It’s historical and cultural significance still remains and is the inspiration for the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Addison’s book focuses on the Parker expedition, a motley crew who in 1909 sailed to Jerusalem in search of the Ark. The book is written for a general audience and the writing style is very accessible. It’s also very fascinating! It’s clear that Addison has put in a great deal of research and some sources are completely new or presented in English for the first time. The book is richly detailed with photographs of the sources which helps to create a picture in the reader’s mind. I found the writing immersive, exciting and in places almost unbelievable. Seriously, reading some of the details I just thought ‘you couldn’t make it up’. It’s an absolutely brilliant adventure story and even better it’s all real!
The book begins with the significance of Ark itself, then describes the members of the expedition and their motivation, and how the expedition was planned and funded. It goes on to give details of the expedition itself, or more accurately three expeditions, the implications of the expedition on geopolitics (both in Jerusalem and more widely) and what became of the expedition members. I think this book has wide appeal, for fans of both fiction and non fiction. It reads just as captivatingly as any work of historical fiction or adventure, and will also naturally be of interest to fans of history, archaeology or theology.
Addison’s book focuses on the Parker expedition, a motley crew who in 1909 sailed to Jerusalem in search of the Ark. The book is written for a general audience and the writing style is very accessible. It’s also very fascinating! It’s clear that Addison has put in a great deal of research and some sources are completely new or presented in English for the first time. The book is richly detailed with photographs of the sources which helps to create a picture in the reader’s mind. I found the writing immersive, exciting and in places almost unbelievable. Seriously, reading some of the details I just thought ‘you couldn’t make it up’. It’s an absolutely brilliant adventure story and even better it’s all real!
The book begins with the significance of Ark itself, then describes the members of the expedition and their motivation, and how the expedition was planned and funded. It goes on to give details of the expedition itself, or more accurately three expeditions, the implications of the expedition on geopolitics (both in Jerusalem and more widely) and what became of the expedition members. I think this book has wide appeal, for fans of both fiction and non fiction. It reads just as captivatingly as any work of historical fiction or adventure, and will also naturally be of interest to fans of history, archaeology or theology.
October 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The story is largely self evident right from the start. They didn't find it!
However what I loved was the vast amount of social history which is explained along the way. The author's passion for history is evident all the way through. I know a lot more about the lives of the monied classes in the period pre WW1 , and although I had heard about the Ottoman Empire, I would have struggled to tell you anything about it.
I read this on my Kindle, and as ever, it is not possible to enlarge the photographs and diagrams in this format, which means that unless you have a magnifying glass, you are unlikely to be able to see them properly. I thought that being able to access the diagrams would have enhanced my understanding of the locations discussed, and their proximity to each other. They are included in the text for a reason, and I wish Amazon would sort out this glitch.
All in all a good entertaining read and a valuable insight to that period of history.
However what I loved was the vast amount of social history which is explained along the way. The author's passion for history is evident all the way through. I know a lot more about the lives of the monied classes in the period pre WW1 , and although I had heard about the Ottoman Empire, I would have struggled to tell you anything about it.
I read this on my Kindle, and as ever, it is not possible to enlarge the photographs and diagrams in this format, which means that unless you have a magnifying glass, you are unlikely to be able to see them properly. I thought that being able to access the diagrams would have enhanced my understanding of the locations discussed, and their proximity to each other. They are included in the text for a reason, and I wish Amazon would sort out this glitch.
All in all a good entertaining read and a valuable insight to that period of history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2025
About as laborious and tedious as the dig itself and as dry as the earth being dug.
April 27, 2022
Raiders of the hidden Ark Graham Addison
Excellent book very well resourced incredible story really enjoyed it from start to finish thank you Graham for opening my eyes to a world I knew very little about. Well worth a read It truly is a fascinating book.
Excellent book very well resourced incredible story really enjoyed it from start to finish thank you Graham for opening my eyes to a world I knew very little about. Well worth a read It truly is a fascinating book.
September 2, 2021
Raiders of the Hidden Ark is a compelling, interesting, thoroughly researched and comprehensive account of the Parker Expedition, where a group of ex-Etonian’s set off to Jerusalem in search of the Ark of the Covenant; believing they knew where to find it. What they thought wouldn’t be too challenging, turned into numerous digs, riots, investigations and unrest.
This book introduces you to the main participants of the group – their backgrounds, what they were doing before the dig and where they were after; as well as providing an extremely detailed account of the expedition over the years, Some of the things they did will make you cringe – especially in the days of so much health and safety! And for any archaeologists out there, the initial lack of recording will also make you squirm!
The behaviour of these wealthy men will certainly shock you at times, especially when it comes to their disregard for the culture and country they were in. As well as the amount of money they were willing to throw at their quest!
So if you’re a history fan like me and are interested in learning about an expedition that was nearly forgotten, then this is for you!
This book introduces you to the main participants of the group – their backgrounds, what they were doing before the dig and where they were after; as well as providing an extremely detailed account of the expedition over the years, Some of the things they did will make you cringe – especially in the days of so much health and safety! And for any archaeologists out there, the initial lack of recording will also make you squirm!
The behaviour of these wealthy men will certainly shock you at times, especially when it comes to their disregard for the culture and country they were in. As well as the amount of money they were willing to throw at their quest!
So if you’re a history fan like me and are interested in learning about an expedition that was nearly forgotten, then this is for you!
September 6, 2021
This was an absolutely fascinating read for anyone who enjoys history and enjoy books based on real events , this book is very well written and is about the real Parker expedition . You can tell that the author has a really interest in this particular one by the depth and knowledge the book had , whether you know lots about it ,or nothing about it, its a great book to read
September 1, 2021
Check out my blog review here as it has pictures included: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2021...
June 3, 2022
Very straight through book about the expedition. It describes the people involved, their motivation, what happened to them, and what level of involvement they had. After explaining that, the author continued on to explain events that I folded in their personal lives after the expedition. A very mundane and dry style of storytelling.
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August 1, 2021
This is absolutely the best, most detailed book I have read on this subject! I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. Definitely a fan, and I have already recommended the book to my husband and my friends.
The author gives a lot of background about the era, the wars, and the relationships between the people involved. In doing so he completes detailed profiles of the various expedition members as well as delving into the backgrounds of government officials and conditions in the Ottoman Empire and Palestine. The religious portrait of Jerusalem reveals a far more complex and cosmopolitan city than one would believe existed at that time. There is also a review of the exploration accomplished by Sir Charles Warren in his time in Palestine, the forerunner to the Parker Expedition upon which this book is centered. There are photos of individuals important to the expedition as well as reproductions of maps from the tunneling around Jerusalem. All of this information was like a firehose of historical facts that allowed you to be completely informed of the import of this undertaking.
The author pulled all of these factual threads into one cohesive narrative that was absolutely fascinating. The writing was clear and concise, and the narrative moved along at a good clip. By the time I finished, I felt that I had a very deep understanding of the time, place, and circumstances that motivated these “Old Etonians” to spend a portion of their young lives on a treasure hunt for the lost Ark of the Covenant.
I would like to thank author Graham Addison, publisher BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eGalley of this book. I have not been compensated and my opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed myself!
The author gives a lot of background about the era, the wars, and the relationships between the people involved. In doing so he completes detailed profiles of the various expedition members as well as delving into the backgrounds of government officials and conditions in the Ottoman Empire and Palestine. The religious portrait of Jerusalem reveals a far more complex and cosmopolitan city than one would believe existed at that time. There is also a review of the exploration accomplished by Sir Charles Warren in his time in Palestine, the forerunner to the Parker Expedition upon which this book is centered. There are photos of individuals important to the expedition as well as reproductions of maps from the tunneling around Jerusalem. All of this information was like a firehose of historical facts that allowed you to be completely informed of the import of this undertaking.
The author pulled all of these factual threads into one cohesive narrative that was absolutely fascinating. The writing was clear and concise, and the narrative moved along at a good clip. By the time I finished, I felt that I had a very deep understanding of the time, place, and circumstances that motivated these “Old Etonians” to spend a portion of their young lives on a treasure hunt for the lost Ark of the Covenant.
I would like to thank author Graham Addison, publisher BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eGalley of this book. I have not been compensated and my opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed myself!
August 10, 2021
Even if you don't believe in the Ark of the Covenant, you will love this book! It's a true story of the Parker Expedition, who in the early 1900s mounted a search for the Ark. This group of wealthy, elite people hunted through libraries, old stories from the indigenous peoples in the countries they searched through as well as the bible. The author is true in his descriptions of how this group of people treated the native peoples, which was pretty disgusting, even for those times. The author also gives a wonderfully descriptive narrative of each main adventurer as well as the lore behind the tales experienced by others who had search for the Ark. A really great read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this copy, for my unpaid, honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this copy, for my unpaid, honest review.
July 29, 2021
4914 kb
3 and 1 / 2 stars
Mr. Addison does a good job of including a great deal of history to background the team searching for the Ark of the Covenant. Some of the histories surrounding the “adventurers” were very interesting.
He also discusses the prevailing attitude of the average wealthier, white citizens of the world to the natives of newly discovered, or conquered countries. Ah, Empire!
The differences and problems associated with the expedition are discussed as well. Whether it was personalities or someone’s drinking, or harassing the local women and girls, Mr. Addison has it covered.
At the same time. I thought the book could have been shorter. There is an awful lot of filler. While I found some of it interesting, it seemed unnecessary. It is written in a rather dry style. Still, I enjoyed learning about it. I always enjoy learning new things.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
3 and 1 / 2 stars
Mr. Addison does a good job of including a great deal of history to background the team searching for the Ark of the Covenant. Some of the histories surrounding the “adventurers” were very interesting.
He also discusses the prevailing attitude of the average wealthier, white citizens of the world to the natives of newly discovered, or conquered countries. Ah, Empire!
The differences and problems associated with the expedition are discussed as well. Whether it was personalities or someone’s drinking, or harassing the local women and girls, Mr. Addison has it covered.
At the same time. I thought the book could have been shorter. There is an awful lot of filler. While I found some of it interesting, it seemed unnecessary. It is written in a rather dry style. Still, I enjoyed learning about it. I always enjoy learning new things.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
December 25, 2021
What do you do when you are wealthy and need something to do? Why you go on an expedition to find the Ark of the Covenant, of course. The Parker Expedition did just that in the early 1900's. This book explains who went, how they were financed, and the results of the their findings.
May 4, 2024
The Ark of the Covenant, the sacred relic of the Israelites containing the tablets carved with the Ten Commandments, has been missing for 2,500 years. We don’t know if it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon; carried off by Titus to Rome; or brought to Ethiopia by the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
Perhaps the Ark was hidden before the Babylonian invasion and is buried somewhere below the Temple Mount? This possibility has fascinated countless biblical scholars and archaeologists, but, spoiler alert, the Ark is still missing.
Raiders of the Hidden Ark by Graham Addison (Edgcumbe Press, August 2021) tells the largely unknown story of the Parker Expedition, a group of British aristocrats and army officers that carried out excavations in Jerusalem searching for Temple treasures between 1909 and 1911.
In this exhaustively researched work, we meet Montagu Brownlow Parker, 5th Earl of Morley, who, encouraged by the writings and explorations of other Christians, wanted to prove doubters of the Bible wrong and more importantly to bring about the End of Days. To organize his expedition, Parker enlisted “men similar to himself; young upper-class Englishmen connected by social background, school, military service and combat in the Boer War.”
But the group was motivated as much by business considerations. They bought shares in a syndicate that would benefit from the sale of any treasures discovered.
The author provides detailed backgrounds of the expedition members, but this slows down the narrative. Mentions of how novelist Joseph Conrad described steamships in the Congo; Second Boer War battles in South Africa; and an attempted assassination of Queen Victoria; may give readers a better understanding of the personalities involved, but they do not contribute to one’s understanding of the actual excavations in Jerusalem
The story of the archaeological dig, of the team’s exploration of the tunnels, shafts, and suspected hiding places of the treasures, only begins some 100 pages into the book. Cyphers in Biblical texts suggested that “the Ark of the Covenant could be found by working through underground passages from Gihon, which would lead … to the mosque.”
Parker and his band retrace the steps and digs of previous explorers and set off in new directions underground. Their work, approved by the Ottoman authorities but a thorn in the side for Palestinians whose homes were above the tunnels, failed to bring them the riches they sought. Instead, their story is just a historical footnote to the many archaeological digs conducted over the years in Jerusalem.
Overall, this book is more the story of the members of the expedition, than of the expedition itself. While details of the only dig ever sanctioned inside the Dome of the Rock itself are fascinating, less so are descriptions of the “misfortunes which befell former members of the expedition” in the following years.
The expedition’s story, which sounds stranger than fiction, was ultimately unsuccessful but may have served as inspiration for later archaeologists and for the creators of action-adventure film “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The mystery of the Ark of the Covenant’s location, as highlighted in this thoroughly researched book, will no doubt captivate future explorers as well.
Perhaps the Ark was hidden before the Babylonian invasion and is buried somewhere below the Temple Mount? This possibility has fascinated countless biblical scholars and archaeologists, but, spoiler alert, the Ark is still missing.
Raiders of the Hidden Ark by Graham Addison (Edgcumbe Press, August 2021) tells the largely unknown story of the Parker Expedition, a group of British aristocrats and army officers that carried out excavations in Jerusalem searching for Temple treasures between 1909 and 1911.
In this exhaustively researched work, we meet Montagu Brownlow Parker, 5th Earl of Morley, who, encouraged by the writings and explorations of other Christians, wanted to prove doubters of the Bible wrong and more importantly to bring about the End of Days. To organize his expedition, Parker enlisted “men similar to himself; young upper-class Englishmen connected by social background, school, military service and combat in the Boer War.”
But the group was motivated as much by business considerations. They bought shares in a syndicate that would benefit from the sale of any treasures discovered.
The author provides detailed backgrounds of the expedition members, but this slows down the narrative. Mentions of how novelist Joseph Conrad described steamships in the Congo; Second Boer War battles in South Africa; and an attempted assassination of Queen Victoria; may give readers a better understanding of the personalities involved, but they do not contribute to one’s understanding of the actual excavations in Jerusalem
The story of the archaeological dig, of the team’s exploration of the tunnels, shafts, and suspected hiding places of the treasures, only begins some 100 pages into the book. Cyphers in Biblical texts suggested that “the Ark of the Covenant could be found by working through underground passages from Gihon, which would lead … to the mosque.”
Parker and his band retrace the steps and digs of previous explorers and set off in new directions underground. Their work, approved by the Ottoman authorities but a thorn in the side for Palestinians whose homes were above the tunnels, failed to bring them the riches they sought. Instead, their story is just a historical footnote to the many archaeological digs conducted over the years in Jerusalem.
Overall, this book is more the story of the members of the expedition, than of the expedition itself. While details of the only dig ever sanctioned inside the Dome of the Rock itself are fascinating, less so are descriptions of the “misfortunes which befell former members of the expedition” in the following years.
The expedition’s story, which sounds stranger than fiction, was ultimately unsuccessful but may have served as inspiration for later archaeologists and for the creators of action-adventure film “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The mystery of the Ark of the Covenant’s location, as highlighted in this thoroughly researched book, will no doubt captivate future explorers as well.
November 7, 2023
There isn't much content in this book, at least, not about the actual subject of the book. A TON of time is spent providing backstory to the people involved and providing details that are ultimately irrelevant to the story. This is clearly a result of trying to turn a story into a book without having enough content to fill the pages. It isn't a bad read, but a shockingly small number of pages are spent on the subject, and large tangents are pursued sometimes on people that weren't even part of the expedition. I think this could have been a lot more focused. That parts about the expedition are interesting for sure, and the people involved in the expedition are also fun to read about, but there is a lot of filler content.
November 19, 2021
This was a fun and interesting read! I truly enjoyed this one. For those who are interested in history, this is one book that you are going to want to check out - and find an adventure that is going to be out of the ordinary!
Discover a different style of history - and join these young adventurers as they search for the Ark of the Covenant. This book is compelling and intriguing! You are not going to be disappointed with this book at all!
Discover a different style of history - and join these young adventurers as they search for the Ark of the Covenant. This book is compelling and intriguing! You are not going to be disappointed with this book at all!
October 4, 2021
Nothing Earth Shattering
I was hoping for some light to be shed on the expedition or the Ark's whereabouts. Neither happened. I would like to know why Wilson went mad or if people just thought he was crazy for being involved with Parker. It was well researched and well written though. Even if not exciting.
I was hoping for some light to be shed on the expedition or the Ark's whereabouts. Neither happened. I would like to know why Wilson went mad or if people just thought he was crazy for being involved with Parker. It was well researched and well written though. Even if not exciting.
July 3, 2023
Very detailed review of the expedition
Enjoyable, but be prepared for extensive, sometimes exhaustive, background. Most of the time this is necessary, but sometimes overdone and repetitive. Perhps 20% of the book deals directly with the digs.
Enjoyable, but be prepared for extensive, sometimes exhaustive, background. Most of the time this is necessary, but sometimes overdone and repetitive. Perhps 20% of the book deals directly with the digs.
February 7, 2025
Lacked a true narrative through line or story to help piece together this expedition. It’s less a narrative than a detailed almost bullet point list of facts and events. Perhaps in too familiar with world by Larson or McCullough or Preston and expected too much.
October 13, 2021
Very interesting history, that reads with the intrigue of fiction - which is necessary to hold my attention. Really well done.
April 18, 2022
a big nothing burger
This book could have been written in 15 or 20 pages. And it should have been. A major waste of time and effort.
This book could have been written in 15 or 20 pages. And it should have been. A major waste of time and effort.
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