The captured Indy, witnessing energy beginning to come out of the Ark, had already realized beforehand what was about to happen. Warning Marion, they closed their eyes and looked away from the Ark, symbolically showing proper respect, and were spared from the wrath of God.
Some Indiana Jones fans were wondering if Indy would lose his eye during the events of Dial of Destiny, but this didn't occur. So canonically, it must have happened to him at some point between 1969 and 1992. How exactly this happened remains a mystery.
The opening of the Ark of the Covenant causes all hell to break loose, and the Nazis present meet their doom by looking at the released spirits while Indiana Jones closes his eyes. And so, a face melts, and heads cave in or explode, in the terrifying climax of one of cinema's best adventure films.
The events conclude after the area has been purged (save Indy and Marion, who are spared because they keep their eyes shut during the encounter, likely a reference to Genesis 32:30), and the Ark's heavy cover slams shut again.
What happens if you look in the ark of the covenant?
Return of the Ark to the Israelites
Out of curiosity the men of Beth-shemesh gazed at the Ark; and as a punishment, seventy of them (fifty thousand and seventy in some translations) were struck down by the Lord.
Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark - Keep Your Eyes Shut Scene
How did Indy know not to look at the Ark?
This is first explained in additional dialogue for the scene when Indy and Sallah visit Imam. Before translating the writings on the headpiece that give the height of the Staff of Ra, Imam warns Indy not to touch the Ark or look at it when it is opened.
Jewish and Christian holy scriptures dictate that the Ark of the Covenant can be carried only by Levites, who constituted the ancient Jewish priestly class. They must carry the Ark by using two wooden poles inserted through rings on its sides, as touching the Ark itself will result in death at the hands of God.
How old was Marion when Indiana Jones slept with her?
Marion entered into a relationship with Indiana Jones during this time (when she was 15 years old, according to the novelization, although not quite reliable due to the differences and inconsistencies) Jones abruptly left the Ravenwoods in 1926; Marion was about 16 or 17 years old when the relationship ended, and Jones ...
Marion". They were eventually reunited and even got engaged, with news of their engagement reaching to the ears of Indy's father Henry Walton Jones, Senior. One week before the wedding, however, Indy reconsidered and broke it off, having privately convinced himself that the marriage would not work.
Why is there only sand in the Ark of the Covenant?
They originally held the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. Over the years, the tablets turned to sand - or, the Nazis were not permitted to see the actual stone tablets, the rod that budded, and the golden pot filled with manna. So all they got to see was sand.
Many professional archaeologists love to hate on Indiana Jones. Critics often bemoan the unrealistic representation of archaeology and the mystification of historical facts. Some find it demeaning to the serious research undertaken in the field.
It turns out that before it became one of Harrison Ford's landmark roles, there was another leading man the Indiana Jones team were keen to hunt down. That man was Tom Selleck, who has just revealed that he was originally offered the role as the intrepid archaeologist, but decided not to don the famous hat and whip.
One of the most famous images from the entire series is when Indiana falls to the bottom of the chamber and comes face to face with a cobra. The pair's dying torchlight, Indiana's infamous phobia of snakes, and the Nazis' imminent use of the Ark all combine to give this scene gravity and suspense.
The character was originally named Indiana Smith, after an Alaskan Malamute called Indiana that Lucas owned in the 1970s and on which he based the Star Wars character Chewbacca. Spielberg disliked the name Smith, and Lucas casually suggested Jones as an alternative.
Indy's fear of snakes is a poignant, humorous element that stretches back decades to his adolescence. Other fears and insecurities go back even further and motivate the hero in much deeper ways. Fleeing from a band of graverobbers, a teenaged Indy develops his fear of snakes.
The character, a '50s-style greaser, was Indiana's only child with Marion Ravenwood (his love interest in 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark"), though Indiana doesn't find out about him until the events of the film.
Despite Han Solo existing as a quintessential character in the Star Wars universe that grew to become a fan favorite of the franchise he just doesn't come up to par in the eyes of the actor. Apparently, Ford prefers Indiana Jones, a character he's played in four movies since 1981.
Indiana Jones was married twice. His first wife, Deirdre Campbell Jones, died in a plane crash shortly after their marriage. His second wife, Marion Ravenwood, although separated from Indy a few times, eventually reconciles with him and is presumed to stay together with him until his/her death.
Abner's 16-year old daughter, Marion, became infatuated with the dashing 26-year old, and Indy didn't push her away, choosing to have a romantic relationship with her. Not anything that was taboo in 1925. For Indy it was a fling, for Marion it was more. Indy moved on and Marion's heart was broken.
However, a later conflict between Mutt and Indiana Jones led to the younger man enlisting in the army specifically to annoy his father. Mutt was killed in action in Vietnam and Jones' grief almost led to Marion leaving him until Helena Shaw managed to help bring him back in both body and spirit.
During filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Harrison Ford was 41. Ford was 46 years old during the filming of the next film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Incidentally, James Bond famed actor Sean Connery played Ford's father in this film.
When was the last time the Ark of the Covenant was seen?
The last time the Ark of the Covenant was supposedly seen was in Jerusalem, some 2,600 years ago. Now archaeologists are exploring the ancient town of Kiriath Jearim, where the Bible says the ark was kept for 20 years before being taken to Jerusalem.
The Ark of the Covenant was lost after the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed in 586 BCE. Some claim that it was stolen while others claim it is on Mount Nebo, from where Moses saw the Promised Land. Most popularly, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims that they have it in their Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion.
Whether it was destroyed, captured, or hidden–nobody knows. One of the most famous claims about the Ark's whereabouts is that before the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem, it had found its way to Ethiopia, where it still resides in the town of Aksum, in the St. Mary of Zion cathedral.
