Ancient map reveals possible resting place of Noah's Ark
Scientists have deciphered the world's oldest map, which was engraved on a clay tablet about 3,000 years ago. It may contain the location of "Noah's Ark."
The Babylonian artefact, known as Imago Mundi, has intrigued researchers since its discovery in 1882 in what is now Iraq. The map depicts Mesopotamia surrounded by a circle symbolising the "bitter ocean", which, according to ancient beliefs, encircled the entire world. As reported by the "Daily Mail", recent studies have shown that the map contains references to the biblical Noah's Ark, indicating where it might be found.
The back of the tablet serves as a key, describing what the traveller will see during their journey to the boat. One of the Babylonian map fragments mentions the need to traverse "seven leagues to see something thick as a parsiktu vessel".
The word "parsiktu" appears in other ancient Babylonian texts, describing the size of the boat needed to survive the Great Flood. Following the map's guidance, researchers reached "Urartu" – where, according to a Mesopotamian poem, man settled with his family after the flood. Urartu is the Assyrian equivalent of "Ararat", the Hebrew word for the mountains where the Bible says 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 the "Daily Mail".
This is where Noah's Ark was said to have come to rest
The Bible claims that the Ark came to rest on the "mountains of Ararat" in Turkey after the flood, which submerged the Earth and every living creature on it, except for those who found refuge on the ship. Proponents of this theory point out that the mountain's summit matches the shape and dimensions of Noah's Ark. However, not everyone shares this view.
Dr Andrew Snelling from the University of Sydney indicates that Noah's Ark will not be found on Mount Ararat. According to him, the reason is quite simple — the mountain formed only after the waters of the flood receded. Many scientists and archaeologists emphasise that the biblical story of Noah should not be interpreted literally.
