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.

Why did Indy not look at the Ark?

The astronomer goes on to warn Indiana of the fatal consequences that await anyone who opens the ancient artifact and releases its divine force. He adds that simply looking upon the holy power of the lost Ark of the Covenant will result in death and destruction.

What happens when the Ark of the Covenant is opened in Indiana Jones?

At Jones' instruction, he and Marion close their eyes to avoid looking at the opened Ark, as it releases spirits, flames, and bolts of energy that kill Belloq, Toht, and the assembled Nazis before sealing itself shut. Jones and Marion open their eyes to find the area cleared of bodies and their bindings removed.

What does Indy tell Marion to do when Belloq opens the Ark?

Then when the ghostly spirits started coming out of the Ark, Indy lost all doubt that there must be something to this unspeakable power of the Ark thing, so he told Marion to shut her eyes and he did likewise.

What happens if you look inside the Ark of the Covenant?

When the ark was captured by the Philistines, outbreaks of tumors and disease afflicted them, forcing the Philistines to return the ark to the Israelites. Some stories describe how death would come to anyone who touched the ark or looked inside it.

How Did Indiana Jones Know Not to Look at the Ark of the Covenant - Indiana Jones Explained

Why can't you touch the Ark of the Covenant?

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.

Why is no one allowed to see the Ark of the Covenant?

The Ark was so sacred that touching it meant instant death. And once it was laid to rest in the Temple of Jerusalem's holiest chamber, only the high priest was allowed in its presence and only once a year.

How did Indiana Jones know to close his eyes when the Ark was opened?

Another option is that he remembered a relevant passage from the Bible (1 Samuel 6:19), where God "smote" the men of Beth Shemesh for looking into the Ark. Plus, there's a brief moment when Marcus Brody says the light from the Ark could lay waste to everything it touched, further warning of the Ark's power.

Why did Indy and Marion close their eyes?

Warning Marion, they closed their eyes and looked away from the Ark, symbolically showing proper respect, and were spared from the wrath of God. Afterwards, instead of giving the Ark to the National Museum as agreed, the US government took possession of it.

Why did Indy know to keep his eyes shut?

Clearly, Indy did his homework better than Belloq, because he knew he had to close his eyes to be spared by the Ark's power. Hardly surprising, though, as Belloq's entire archaeological career is built on following Indy and stealing the stuff he finds.

Why did Indiana Jones have to close his eyes?

By the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," archaeologist Indiana Jones had learned enough to know that he should close his eyes when facing the wrath of God. Apparently, that kind of power can melt Nazis — without changing the hero's soul.

Why were Indy and Marion spared?

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.

Has the Ark of the Covenant been found?

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.

How does Indy remove the ark?

The next scene involving this Ark subplot is when Sallah and Indy remove the Ark from the Well of the Souls. When Sallah first sees it he reaches out to touch it. Indy stops him before he does and reminds him of Imam's warning. Then they insert long poles through each side of the Ark to lift it out of its crypt.

Who turned down the role of Raiders of the Lost Ark?

IGN reported, “Selleck turned the role down, out of a commitment to his TV show, though an actors' strike would ultimately delay production on his show that year so that he, as it turned out, would have had time to shoot RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.”

What did the girls eyelids say in Raiders of the Lost Ark?

If you've seen Raiders of the Lost Ark you are probably aware that there aren't many women in it. Like, at all. There's basically Marion, the young woman who wrote “Love You” on her eyelids (a legend, if you ask me), and Sallah's wife.

Did Indy marry Marion?

Yes, Marion eventually marries Indy at the end of Crystal Skull, but there is no indication that she was ever in love with Henry Jones Sr., Indy's father. Marion doesn't even appear in the the only movie that features Jones Sr.

What was the age gap between Indy and Marion?

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 ...

Why didn t Indiana Jones marry Marion?

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 do archaeologists hate Indiana Jones?

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.

How accurate is the Ark in Indiana Jones?

There's no basis for the artifact being anything like “a radio for speaking to God,” and though it is credited with miraculous events and military victories, Marcus Brody's claim that the Ark has leveled mountains and laid waste to entire regions is an exaggeration of biblical accounts.

What was inside the Ark in Indiana Jones?

Once the Nazis do get their hands on the relic, they open it to find it contains only sand. As in the Bible, God strikes down all those who dared look inside the Ark. It's hard to know whether anyone could've gained any positive results from the Ark, but Indy wisely chooses not to take any chances.

Where is the real Ark of the Covenant today?

Much of Jewish tradition holds that it disappeared before or while the Babylonians sacked the temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. But through the centuries, Ethiopian Christians have claimed that the ark rests in a chapel in the small town of Aksum, in their country's northern highlands.

How many people died from looking at 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.

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.