Does the Vatican have sacred items looted from the Jewish Temple in 70 AD?

I have to admit this is a strange story, but who doesn’t enjoy a good conspiracy theory from time to time.

December 7, 2021

2–3 minutes

blog, destruction of Jewish temple in 70 AD, Does the Vatican have sacred items looted from the Jewish Temple in 70 AD?, Jewish Temple, The Vatican

The Arch of Titus in Rome, showing items looted from the looting of the Jewish Temple in 70 AD. This included a prominent carving of the Jewish Menorah.
Credit: Laurel Lodged/Wikipedia/Public Domain

I have to admit this is a strange story, but who doesn’t enjoy a good conspiracy theory from time to time.

According to an article on Israel365 News, several allege that the Vatican has some sacred artifacts in its possession, taken from the Second Jewish Temple, when Rome sacked Jerusalem and completely obliterated the Temple in 70 AD.

In his article, Adam Berkowitz admits this claim is based on rumours, that have been circulating for years. But nevertheless, he cites The A.R.K Report a book written by Rabbi Moskoff that suggests the Vatican has the golden menorah (seven stick candelabra) and as well other temple items such as shofars and even the High Priest’s crown.

The rumour is based on a couple of historical facts and lots of innuendo.

First, the Arch of Titus, that was constructed by the Roman Emperor Domitian to commemorate the sacking of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD by his brother, has images of items looted from the Temple. The most prominent of these is a carving of the Menorah.

The ancient Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus (37 – 100 AD), also stated that Rome had seized several Jewish artifacts from the Jewish temple. He added that they were eventually placed in Vespasian’s Temple of Peace that was dedicated to Pas, the Roman goddess of peace. The construction of the pagan temple was completed in 75 AD.

However, the Vespasian temple was destroyed by fire in 192. Though rebuilt, it was later looted and destroyed by the Visigoths in 455 AD and never rebuilt.

It would seem that if the Jewish artifacts were not destroyed in the fire, they were probably taken by the Visigoths.

So how come there are rumours circulating that the Vatican has these Jewish artifacts?

Berkowitz writes that the Vatican was built on top of the palace used by the Roman emperors and since there is no mention of the Visigoths taking the menorah, some speculate that it, along with other sacred items, were hidden in the tunnels below the palace.

Thought the Vatican denies that it has these Jewish artifacts, each year it receives hundreds of requests for these artifacts to be returned to Israel. In 2004, the Vatican gave Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) permission to search its archives for the items, but found nothing.

But adding to the mystery, Berkowitz notes that there have been several occasions when the issue was brought up with Vatican officials who at times seemed less than forthright about the issue.

READ: Is the Vatican supporting Palestinians in order to keep Temple Treasures?

4 responses to “Does the Vatican have sacred items looted from the Jewish Temple in 70 AD?”

STEVEN HOWARD COOLEY

October 23, 2025 at 5:22 pm

THE CATHOLIC HAVE ALWAYS EXAGGERATED ABOUT RELICS, AND GRAILS, AND HOLY ORDAINED SAINTS, AND OTHER UNHOLY JUNK, GOD BREAKS IT DOWN, TO THIS A LIE! NOT EXAGGERATION, BUT A LIE! UNTRUTH! TOTAL SIN, (REWARD IS HELL) NOT PURGATORY, ANOTHER WORD, OF ROMAN CATHOLIC DOCTORINE OF SIN! AMEN.

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STEVEN HOWARD COOLEY

October 30, 2025 at 11:41 am

IF YOU WILL NOTICE! I DID NOT SPELL, CATHOLIC, MUSLIM, RIGHT! BECAUSE IN THE EYES, OF GOD! THE HOLY ENTITY, OF HEAVEN! THEIR JOINING OF PRAYER! IS NOT OF THE LORD GOD, OF JESUS! BECAUSE MUSLIM, DO NOT HONOR JESUS! AS THE SON OF GOD! NEITHER DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH! THEY ARE A PAGANIST RELIGION! NOT OF SALVATION! THAT JESUS CHRIST REPRESENT! AMEN. FOR I AM A CHRISTIAN AND FOLLOW (JESUS CHRIST) DO YOU? OR ARE YOU RELIGIOUS? MY SOUL BELONGS TO JESUS CHRIST MY SAVIOUR! HIS BLOOD COVERY MY SIN! JESUS LIVES AMEN. IN THIS TIMPLE OF GOD ALMIGHTY! AND I WILL NOT FOLLOW ANY OTHER BUT JESUS!!

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STEVEN HOWARD COOLEY

November 1, 2025 at 2:55 pm

IT’S WRONG FOR THE CATHOLIC, VATICAN, TO SUPPORT, ANY THING MUSLIM!!! ALLAH, IS NOT A SUPPORTER! OF ANYTHING CHRISTIAN! AMEN.THE VATICAN IS NOT ON THE FENCE! THEY HAVE CROSSED OVER; THE FENCE! THE ITEMS THEY LOOTED! (GOD WOULD SAY STOLEN) ARE NOT HOLY!! THEY HAVE NEVER HAD LIFE! BUT JESUS IS LIFE! HE IS HOLY! AND LIVING! (NEVER TO DIE AGAIN) YOU PRAY TO MAN MADE, IMMAGES! CATHOLIC, DO IT EVERYDAY SIN, AFTER SIN! IS NOT OF GOD! THE FATHER OF JESUS! CATHOLIC, CATHOLICISM IS NOT THE FRUIT OF, JESUS! JESUS CHRIST IS SALVATION, NOT MUSLIM! OR ISLAM, BUT BORN OF GOD AND A JEWISH MOTHER, AMEN. STEVEN A MESSENGER OF JESUS! MY LORD! AND SAVIOUR, AMEN.

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STEVEN HOWARD COOLEY

January 10, 2026 at 10:58 am

“POPE FRANCIS, WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE” (OF A REAL RELIGIOUS CATHOLIC!) “BUT A PORE EXAMPLE” “OF A TRUE BORNAGAIN CHRISTIAN” FILLED WITH THE GLORY AND OF POWER GOD” THE FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST” THE SAVIOUR OF HUMANKIND! NOT “RELIGION” BUT “SALVATIOUN” JESUS WAS IN THE WORLD! BUT NOT OF THE WORLD! POPE FRANCES WAS OF THE WORLD! NEED I SAY MORE! STEVEN MESSENGER OF JESUS AMEN. “RELIGION IS OF THE HUMAN RACE” SALVATION IS OF JESUS! IS LIFE AMEN. RELIGION GOES NO WHERE BUT DOWN! NOT UP “TO HEAVEN”

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