Ancient map's secrets: Researchers locate Noah's Ark site
Scientists have succeeded in deciphering the world's oldest map, engraved on a clay tablet about 3,000 years ago. It seems to contain the possible location of "Noah's Ark."
8:47 AM EDT, October 29, 2024
The Babylonian artifact, known as Imago Mundi, has fascinated researchers since its discovery in 1882 in what is now Iraq. The map depicts Mesopotamia encircled by a circle symbolizing the "bitter ocean," which, according to ancient beliefs, surrounded the entire world. As reported by the "Daily Mail," recent studies suggest that the map includes references to Noah's Ark, indicating a potential location for its discovery.
The back of the tablet acts as a guide, describing what travelers would witness on their journey to the boat. One section of the Babylonian map mentions the need to travel "seven leagues to see something thick as a parsiktu vessel."
The term "parsiktu" appears in other ancient Babylonian texts, describing the size of the boat needed to survive the Great Flood. Following the map's instructions, researchers arrived at "Urartu," where, according to a Mesopotamian poem, humans settled with their families after the flood. Urartu is the Assyrian equivalent of "Ararat," the Hebrew term for the mountains where the Bible states Noah's Ark came to rest.
It shows that the story was the same, and of course that one led to the other but also, that from the Babylonian point of view, this was a matter of fact thing. That if you did go on this journey you would see the remnants of this historic boat — said Dr. Irving Finkel, curator of the British Museum, as quoted by "Daily Mail."
This is where Noah's Ark was said to have come to rest
The Bible states that the ark came to rest on the "mountains of Ararat" in Turkey after the flood, which submerged the Earth and all living creatures, except for those aboard the ship. Proponents of this theory note that the mountain's summit resembles the shape and dimensions of Noah's Ark. However, not everyone agrees with this view.
Dr. Andrew Snelling from the University of Sydney argues that Noah's Ark will not be found on Mount Ararat. According to him, the mountain formed only after the floodwaters receded. Many scientists and archaeologists emphasize that the biblical story of Noah should not be interpreted literally.
