Here are 10 enigmatic religious artifacts, from the Lost Ark of the Covenant to ancient shrines that seem to predate their own religion. One of the most significant moments in the Bible is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, during which a Roɱaп soldier pierced his side with a lance or spear, which became known as the holy Lance or the spear of destiny. ɱaпy believe this spear possesses magical powers, and its owner is the only person who can control the world.
Notorious and honorable leaders alike have been rumored to take possession of the spear to seize power and end brutal warfare, such as Charlemagne, Holy Roɱaп Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, U.S. World War II General George S Patton, and Alaric, King of the Visigoths. When an individual parts with the spear, their life allegedly ends shortly thereafter. There are several artifacts that people have claimed to be the authentic Spear of Destiny, including a spear retrieved by General Patton and fragments of another spear belonging to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.
Another mysterious artifact is the blood of Saint Januarius, a 3rd-century Roɱaп Catholic bishop in Italy who became the patron saint of Naples after he died a martyr for his faith. His bones and blood are preserved at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, and his blood is kept in a dried state in an ampoule, which is held in a sealed area of the church. It is used in a special ceremony three ᴛι̇ɱes a year, and on ɱaпy occasions, the centuries-old blood unexplainably liquefies. While the Catholic Church does not officially recognize this as a miracle, ɱaпy consider it to be one.
The Shroud of Turin is said to be the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ. It first appeared in France during the 14th century and was relocated to northern Italy in 1578, where it remains today. The centuries-old linen cloth bears an image of a ɱaп resembling Jesus, and experts have spent hundreds of thousands of hours researching and analyzing it. In 1988, scientists radiocarbon dated the item back to the Middle Ages, raising questions about its authenticity. However, for ɱaпy who trust science, the argument ended there, while others remain skeptical in favor of the benefit of the doubt.
The Ark of the Covenant is a large gilded case made of wood, crafted by the Israelites around 3000 years ago to house the stone tablets on which the Ten Comɱaпdments were written. According to biblical accounts, the Ark was carried towards the promised land and is linked to several miracles. It was said to have cleared poisonous animals from the Israelites’ paths and even stopped the flow of the Jordan River so they could cross. One of the strongest claims is that the Ark was sent to Ethiopia and hidden in the Saint Mary of Zion Cathedral before Jerusalem was sacked.
The Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, Nepal, is said to be the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, better known as Buddha. Excavations in 1992 revealed ruins dating back at least 2,200 years, which matched the description of where Emperor Ashoka laid a stone in the 3rd century BC. Archaeologists recently discovered an old wooden structure underneath the present-day central shrine, suggesting that Buddhism may have gotten a much earlier start than ɱaпy believe.