# "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:** 9
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/161 "2014-09-03T15:34:40Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Had Indy not interfered, he wouldn’t have led Toht and his creepy cronies to Marion’s bar in Nepal, or led them to the Well of Souls where the Ark was stored. They’d still be fumbling around in the desert when the British figured out that the German army was conducting a giant dig in the effectively British-controlled Kingdom of Egypt. It was pretty obvious from the size of the dig, that the Nazis would have gotten to the Ark sometimes in the next couple of years. The Brits would not be able to do anything about another nation conducting a dig in a 3rd country. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/162 "2014-09-03T15:40:04Z")
Nor was Indy’s efforts useless. Sure, Belloq got fried. But after a few more teams had the same thing happen, or they watched the films, the Nazis would just have blind guys open the casket or not open it at all and carry it before them or force Jewish priests to open it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/163 "2014-09-03T15:45:16Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > the Ark didn’t do much against the Romans, because it had been lost some 500 years earlier. Back in 587 BCE is when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and spirited away the Ark to an unknown fate. There is no mention of the Ark in biblical literature after the Babylonian Exile, and it is presumed to have been lost then. > > See: [What happened to the Ark of the Covenant? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1401/what-happened-to-the-ark-of-the-covenant) There are theories that there was a empty Ark in the Second Temple. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/164 "2014-09-03T16:55:27Z")
Yes, Maccabes is in the Catholic bible. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/165 "2014-09-03T17:07:16Z")
I thought Jesus was going to pop out but it was only a blue Robin Williams. But his act KILLED! ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/166 "2014-09-03T17:37:02Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > I thought Jesus was going to pop out but it was only a blue Robin Williams. But his act KILLED! Really? Last I heard of him, he choked. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/167 "2014-09-03T17:39:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It was pretty obvious from the size of the dig, that the Nazis would have gotten to the Ark sometimes in the next couple of years. The Brits would not be able to do anything about another nation conducting a dig in a 3rd country. I think Spielberg and Lucas didn’t know, forgot, or simply ignored the fact that Egypt was very definitely within the British sphere of influence just before World War II, and that the British maintained a strong military presence there. A word or two from the British ambassador in Cairo to the young King Farouk, and I suspect the Nazis would be asked to pack up and go home ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/168 "2014-09-03T17:42:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nor was Indy’s efforts useless. Sure, Belloq got fried. But after a few more teams had the same thing happen, or they watched the films, the Nazis would just have blind guys open the casket or not open it at all and carry it before them or force Jewish priests to open it. I don’t believe there have been any Jewish Priests since the Temple was destroyed the second time. But then, I was wrong about the Noahide Commandments. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/169 "2014-09-03T17:44:35Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t believe there have been any Jewish Priests since the Temple was destroyed the second time. > But then, I was wrong about the Noahide Commandments. 🙂 Kohen Jews are technically descendants of the priestly class and can have special rituals even today in the synagogue. Kohen status is passed down traditionally from the father to sons (or in my case from my dad to me). > **[Kohen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen)** > > Kohen (Hebrew: .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"Ezra SIL SR","Ezra SIL","SBL Hebrew","Taamey Frank CLM","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Frank Ruehl CLM","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans}כֹּהֵן‎, kōhēn, \[koˈ(h)en\], "priest", pl. כֹּהֲנִים‎, kōhănīm, \[koˈ(h)anim\],... ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/170 "2014-09-03T17:47:55Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Kohen Jews are technically descendants of the priestly class and can have special rituals even today in the synagogue. Kohen status is passed down traditionally from the father to sons (or in my case from my dad to me). > > [Kohen - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen) Thanks, Ivory. I knew Kohen were called to read Tora first. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/171 "2014-09-03T17:52:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Thanks, Ivory. I knew Kohen were called to read Tora first. THere are other restrictions, too (esp for the Orthodoxy). For example, they can’t be around dead bodies and only attend funerals for immediate family members. My dad always got to carry the Torah and the lead the parade around the sanctuary during Simchat Torah. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/172 "2014-09-03T18:09:39Z")
It didn’t occur to me until just now, probably because Raiders came out three years earlier, but doesn’t [the ark](http://www.geeksofdoom.com/GoD/img/2013/11/raiders-of-the-lost_ark-belloq-ark-opening.jpg) look and act like a big golden [ghost trap](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luxewnyfW11r3gup8o1_400.gif) from Ghostbusters? Obviously Moses was the original Ghostbuster. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/173 "2014-09-03T19:19:37Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Obviously Moses was the original Ghostbuster. Who you gonna call? Oye, Moyshe! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/174 "2014-09-03T21:09:11Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Kohen Jews are technically descendants of the priestly class and can have special rituals even today in the synagogue. Kohen status is passed down traditionally from the father to sons (or in my case from my dad to me). > > [Kohen - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen) “Kohen or cohen (or kohain; Hebrew: כֹּהֵן, “priest”, pl. כֹּהֲנִים kohanim) is the Hebrew word for priest” so they are as close as you can get, without there being a actual Temple. I would hazard a guess that if the Ark was found, that they would pick one of their elect, consecrate him and have him touch or open the Ark. I suspect the Chief Rabbi would be consulted. I also would hazard a guess they they already have this figured out if that day ever comes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/175 "2014-09-03T22:05:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “Kohen or cohen (or kohain; Hebrew: כֹּהֵן, “priest”, pl. כֹּהֲנִים kohanim) is the Hebrew word for priest” so they are as close as you can get, without there being a actual Temple. I would hazard a guess that if the Ark was found, that they would pick one of their elect, consecrate him and have him touch or open the Ark. I suspect the Chief Rabbi would be consulted. I also would hazard a guess they they already have this figured out if that day ever comes. Can there be priests without a temple? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/176 "2014-09-03T22:19:17Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Can there be priests without a temple? Not for the mainstream Jewish faith, no. But if there was a Temple, the Kohen would be the priests. ---
**Author:** ![MsKaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@MsKaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsKaren)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/177 "2014-09-03T22:21:30Z")
From documentaries I’ve seen and articles I’ve read the Cohens are more than traditionally or technically descendants of the priestly class, For example see: [http://www.cohen-levi.org/jewish\_genes\_and\_genealogy/jewish\_genes\_-\_dna\_evidence.htm](http://www.cohen-levi.org/jewish_genes_and_genealogy/jewish_genes_-_dna_evidence.htm) I find this ancient lineage thrilling actually, But I certainly bow to the other dopers greater direct knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/178 "2014-09-03T23:05:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Can there be priests without a temple? They have some priestly responsibilities. There can be no High Priest minus a Temple. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/179 "2014-09-04T00:29:31Z")
I actually find it pretty fascinating, too. You’d think that after all these millennia, there’d have been enough infidelity, adoption, switches-at-birth, and so on that the correlation between name and Y chromosome would have been erased. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748/180 "2014-09-04T02:27:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I actually find it pretty fascinating, too. You’d think that after all these millennia, there’d have been enough infidelity, adoption, switches-at-birth, and so on that the correlation between name and Y chromosome would have been erased. Some Jewish board I used to frequent that no longer exists-“What would you ask Jesus if you had the chance?” “So, did Paul screw up, or what?” Has an article describing how they could trace Kohain DNA and determine if someone was of the Priestly Tribe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-what-was-happening-when-it-opened/621748.md?page=10)