# "Raiders of the Lost Ark". What was happening when it opened? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748 "2012-05-13T02:32:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/41 "2012-05-13T20:48:31Z")
“We have top men working on it.” “Who?” “Top. Men.” A brilliant ending that is both great homage and a classic moment in its own right. Frankly, Speilberg’s best moment in the director’s chair. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/42 "2012-05-13T20:57:38Z")
At the time the movie came out, I had the incorrect belief that the Ark also contained the bones of Joseph and possibly others. So I used to think that the sand was partially crumbled bones (and the spirits were somehow associated with those). And I probably wasn’t the only one. (Joseph’s bones were carried in a second ark.) If this was a common belief, then maybe some of the movie makers set it up that way. But that chances of Spielberg making a mistake like that has to be nearly 0. OTOH, it could be a “deliberate mistake” that movie/TV producers put in to conform to the legend rather than the reality. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/43 "2012-05-13T21:24:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > By averting their eyes and not looking at the Ark, Indy and Marian were demonstrating humility. Like in so many stories, what did the Nazis in was hubris, and since the heroes avoided the hubris, they avoided the gristly fate that went with it. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/44 "2012-05-13T21:30:56Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > As Indy says when talking to the G-Men earlier in the move, “Real wrath of God stuff.” You’re confusing Raiders with Ghostbusters. In Ghostbusters, Ray says “real wrath of God type stuff” to the mayor when describing the mass hysteria scenario. And as a side note (if it matters to anyone), Indy himself calls the energy from the ark “the power of God,” not wrath, not that they are mutually exclusive, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/45 "2012-05-14T00:35:10Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > This is one of those movies where the protagonist’s efforts were, in the end, completely irrelevant, right? Fortunately, you don’t watch _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ for just the end. Besides, it’s not as though the Nazis were just going to say “Huh, wonder what ever happened of that island base we had. Oh well.” They’d send someone around, find the Ark and perhaps someone who could noodle out 2+2 and do a better job of “weaponizing” it. Instead, Indy gets the Ark into US hands where it’s (safely) warehoused. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/46 "2012-05-14T09:22:54Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Instead, Indy gets the Ark into US hands where it’s (safely) warehoused. Until the 1950s. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/47 "2012-05-14T11:34:15Z")
There was a picture-book at the time that had some stuff not in the movie. I’ll try to get it later (it’s unreachable at moment) but it had something on the back of amulet about not looking. That’s how Indy knew to close his eyes. I always thought the sand was the dust of those killed – they’re pretty much vaporized, and the lightning (or whatever it is) sort of swooshes back into the ark after it’s finished pulverizing. So, I assumed that it was an “ashes to ashes and dust to dust” thing where the ashes of those whom the ark had incinerated were sort of vacuumed into the ark. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/48 "2012-05-14T12:29:41Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > [QUOTE=God] > 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” [/QUOTE] Ah! So _this_ is the origin of the old “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you” cliche! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/49 "2012-05-14T12:47:08Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Exodus, Chapter 33: > > > [@](#): > > > > 20And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. > > The Ark contains the embodiment of God (imprisoned?). Anyone with the hubris to think he should be able to look in it would be killed. > > StG Not to be sacrilegious or anything, but that bit of Exodus makes it sound like God doesn’t want you to look at his face, but he doesn’t mind if you look at his ass (“back parts”). ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/50 "2012-05-14T13:27:45Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Not to be sacrilegious or anything, but that bit of Exodus makes it sound like God doesn’t want you to look at his face, but he doesn’t mind if you look at his ass (“back parts”). So you’re saying God is a butterface? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/51 "2012-05-14T13:39:21Z")
> [@Reepicheep](#): > > …The spirits were, I assumed, the sins of each commandment - they look lovely at first (sin is enticing) but in reality are horrid… Huh. I hadn’t heard that before, but it’s a nifty theory. > [@Miller](#): > > …Thematically, the sand represents the folly of the Nazis efforts. They viewed the ark as a tool they could use to bend god to their will. They expected the box to be filled with riches, but wealth, like all things mortal, is transitory. Only faith is eternal. The Nazis put their faith in the things of this world, and in the end, all they had was dust. I think the Almighty probably also knew that the Nazis were no friends of his chosen people. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/52 "2012-05-14T14:10:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I think the Almighty probably also knew that the Nazis were no friends of his chosen people. True, but then again, he’s friggin’ _ **God** _. If he’s got a beef with the Nazis, couldn’t he just, you know, kill the Nazis? What’s he need the Ark for? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/53 "2012-05-14T14:38:14Z")
Yeah, what does God need with a spaceship? (Sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/54 "2012-05-14T15:00:18Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > True, but then again, he’s friggin’ _ **God** _. If he’s got a beef with the Nazis, couldn’t he just, you know, kill the Nazis? What’s he need the Ark for? > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Yeah, what does God need with a spaceship? > > (Sorry.) And we have now successfully illustrated why a silly plot point can work in a well made movie, while look horrible in a poorly made movie. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/55 "2012-05-14T15:46:01Z")
Relevent excerpt from the Bible regarding why you are not supposed to be all casual around the ark: > [@II Samuel](#): > > They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it… > > When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, **Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died** there beside the ark of God. And Uzzah didn’t even open it; he just _touched_ it and was smoted. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/56 "2012-05-14T16:11:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Yeah, what does God need with a spaceship? > > (Sorry.) Is that a Star Trek V reference? Ha! [sup]Damn, that was a bad movie.[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/57 "2012-05-14T16:17:50Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > True, but then again, he’s friggin’ _ **God** _. If he’s got a beef with the Nazis, couldn’t he just, you know, kill the Nazis? What’s he need the Ark for? The Lord works in mysterious ways. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/58 "2012-05-15T00:14:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Thematically, the sand represents the folly of the Nazis efforts. They viewed the ark as a tool they could use to bend god to their will. They expected the box to be filled with riches, but wealth, like all things mortal, is transitory. Only faith is eternal. The Nazis put their faith in the things of this world, and in the end, all they had was dust. As Indy, in a bit of foreshadowing, learned to his regret not to put his faith in a bag of sand to prevent the Mayan tomb from attacking him. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/59 "2012-05-15T00:15:58Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Is that a Star Trek V reference? > > Ha! > > [sup]Damn, that was a bad movie.[/sup] Odd number. Not surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/60 "2012-05-15T00:20:43Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > As Indy, in a bit of foreshadowing, learned to his regret not to put his faith in a bag of sand to prevent the Mayan tomb from attacking him. Huh. Never looked at it that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748.md?page=4)