Raiders Ark Retrieval Mission
Across three continents and ancient traps: Securing the Ark before the Nazis unleash its divine fury.
In 1936, Indiana Jones confronts fascism for the first time on a mission that defines his legend: racing from Nepal to Egypt to secure the biblical Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can weaponize its divine power.
Quick Facts
- Protagonist
- Dr. Henry 'Indiana' Jones Jr.
- Key artifact
- The Ark of the Covenant
Lore & Background
Indiana Jones is approached by US Army Intelligence to locate the Ark before the Germans do. His search leads him through treacherous terrain and into a web of deceit involving his former lover, Marion Ravenwood, and his academic rival, René Belloq.
Reader's Guide
Indy’s quest begins in Peru, retrieving a golden idol before fleeing betrayal by his academic rival. The chase leads to Nepal for Marion Ravenwood, where Indy survives a bar brawl and secures the Headpiece of the Staff of Ra. In Cairo, an imam deciphers the headpiece for Jones: its reverse side, which the Nazis lack, corrects the measurements for the staff of Ra. Jones and Sallah realize the Nazis are digging in the wrong location, infiltrate the dig site and use the medallion and a correctly sized staff to find the Well of Souls.
They recover the Ark, but Belloq and the Nazis seize it and seal Jones and Marion inside the well; they escape, and Jones captures the truck carrying the Ark. The climax unfolds on an island in the Aegean Sea, where Belloq tests the Ark before presenting it to Hitler. Bound beside Marion at the testing site, Indy watches Belloq ceremonially open the Ark. The opened Ark releases spirits, flames and bolts of energy that kill Belloq, Toht and the assembled Nazis.
Indy and Marion survive by keeping their eyes shut; the U.S. Government subsequently crates the artifact for indefinite storage.
Did You Know?
- René Belloq serves as a dark mirror to Indiana Jones, representing what Indy could become if he prioritized fame and power over ethics.
- For the climax, Steve Gawley made the Ark's spirits from small robed puppets in a clouded water tank, and Belloq's exploding head was a mold holding a thin plaster skull filled with blood bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Raiders Ark Retrieval Mission?
This refers to the central plot of the 1981 film where archaeologist Indiana Jones races against Nazis in 1936 to find the biblical Ark of the Covenant. His goal is to prevent Adolf Hitler's forces from weaponizing its divine power for military advantage.
Who are the main antagonists?
Dr. Henry Jones Jr. faces off against the Nazi Party and his rival archaeologist, René Belloq. They work together to locate the Ark before Indy can secure it for the United States government.
Where does the mission take place?
The adventure begins in Peru and moves through Nepal, Cairo and the dig at Tanis, Egypt, to an island in the Aegean Sea.
What happens to the Ark after the mission?
The United States government retrieves the artifact and stores it in a massive warehouse filled with countless other crates. It is effectively lost to history within their own storage facility, unseen by the public.
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