greetings ,
i believe dat Menelik stolen not the ark .
when he went to solomon tellin him he would be happy to return his home , the kebra tells that solomon was not so happy and that after a gatherin of ancients he decided that menelik should go but togheter with the first borns of all the ancients of israel .
so togheter with this , there were levites priest , the first son of the priest in charge of takin care of the ark . And from i memori of the Kebra was dem that took the ark in great secret , even of menelik .
menelik only knew of this when they were already half of the trip ...
there is then the great lamentation of solomon because of the departure of the ark , he even decide to run to his son to take back the ark , but seemed like the people with the ark were wey too fast !
So solomon get back at home and make a second lamentation when he say he then overstood why it go so .....Jah will , cause if Jah never want the ark to go , it would not have gone .

from what i remember it was made up of gold and wood . and yes it was something to fear .
made by man, but greater than them , because of the power of Jah .

all i can add ,

mo'love