Raiders of the Lost Ark Question

[Dekanth]

How did Indy know to shut his eyes and not look at the opened ark?

[Buccaneer]

The ark was a supernatural object holding the "power of God" and Indy knew about the ark, its mystique and the OT verses about not looking directly at God (thinking burning bush).

[Greyroofoo]

Read the Bible, only a few people were allowed to look into the ark, priests and maybe Moses and Aaron. Its kind of hazy in my mind.

[Draft Dodger]

didn't Sallah warn him about this earlier in the film?

[stevew]

Hmm, may have to watch the movie again just for the helluva it.

[Dutch]

http://www.movie-page.com/scripts/Ra...-Lost-Ark.html

The bolded parts from the original screenplay were keying on the "do not touch" it suggestion. Nothing in the screenplay mentioned that they shouldn't look at it. But in the movie, there were tied to a pole and perhaps the directors still wanted Indy to show some sort of respect for the ark and "Do Not Look At It" was the solution.

Indy pulls a big format book from the stack on his lectern
and flips through the pages until he finds a large color
print. The other men gather to look.

THE PRINT fills the screen.

It shows a Biblical battle. The Israelite Army is van-
quishing an opposition force. At the forefront of the
Israelite ranks, two men carry the Ark of the Covenant,
a beautiful gold chest, crowned by two sculptured gold
angels. The men do not touch the Ark itself; rather
they carry it by use of two long wooden poles which pass
through rings in the corners of the Ark. The painting
is very dramatic, full of smoke, tumult and sinewy dying
men. But the most astounding thing in the picture is the
brilliant jet of white light and flame issuing from the
wings of the angels. It pierces deep into the ranks of
the retreating enemy, wreaking devastation and terror.

INDY
Let's get out of here.

MARION
What about the Ark?

Indy stops, startled by her spunky attitude. He's con-
sidering their changes.

INDY
Are you game?

MARION
Hell yes! We've made it this far.

INDY
(grins at her)
Okay. Let's do it.

They approach the altar through the dying flames, Indy
slinging the submachine gun over hsi back. The long
carrying poles are still in place.

INDY
Whatever you do, don't touch it.

[Sgran]

isn't there an illustration in some book he has at the beginning where the arc is shooting out deadly light beems?

[stevew]

In the bible, a guy named Uzzah died by touching the ark. I would assume Indy would have some knowledge of the bible.

[MizzouRah]

Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of my favorites games on the Atari.

[JeeberD]

Goddamn invisible snake in the marketplace...

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Goddamn invisible snake in the marketplace...

you owe me beer

[JeeberD]

I don't know what you're talking about...

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Goddamn invisible snake in the marketplace...