Allegorically it may have been a story the ancients told themselves in veiled language on how to activate their Pineal Glands

Great Masters of The Past.. had the ability to hide 'true secrets' in stories that would distract the 'unworthy' to look in the wrong direction

Gold lusting men of the past would have been attracted to the Ark is a Gold Chest idea

And that kept The Great Masters Secret

Of The Ark of The Covenant being a person