Forbidden History

It’s that staple of cable and satellite TV: the post-Da Vinci Code history programme, seeking The Truth (ie renegade hypotheses and conspiracy theories) behind ancient stories. And there’s nothing more popular than a biblical mystery (except maybe a Nazi one). So, series three of Forbidden History starts with the “ultimate treasure quest” – the hunt for the Ark of the Covenant.

“If anything’s going to survive from biblical times, it’s the Ark,” says one historian. So where is it? Ethiopia emerges as a contender. But it’s a complex quest, with many angles, and ultimately if feels like everyone’s floundering in the dark, trying to justify their own agenda.

It’s that staple of cable and satellite TV: the post-Da Vinci Code history programme, seeking The Truth (ie renegade hypotheses and conspiracy theories) behind ancient stories. And there’s nothing more popular than a biblical mystery (except maybe a Nazi one). So, series three of Forbidden History starts with the “ultimate treasure quest” – the hunt for the Ark of the Covenant.

“If anything’s going to survive from biblical times, it’s the Ark,” says one historian. So where is it? Ethiopia emerges as a contender. But it’s a complex quest, with many angles, and ultimately if feels like everyone’s floundering in the dark, trying to justify their own agenda.